Norway has announced that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs will be available for free for citizens of the country through the National Health Service.

The drug called Truvada can cut down the risk of acquiring HIV by up to 86 percent with a daily dosage. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have endorsed the drug - especially for homosexual men.

Truvada is currently available in other countries including Canada, United States, France, and South Africa. Norway is the second European country to obtain the PrEP but the first to offer it for free.

The no-cost distribution of the drug to Norwegian citizens was recommended by the Institute of Public Health and Health Directorate. The decision was made following two years of lobbying by a national organization named HIV Norway.

"PrEP will contribute to reducing the rate of new infections in the gay community, as gay men are facing a risk of infection much higher than the general population," the president of the organization Leif-Ove Hansen said.

In the U.S, PrEP is included in many insurance coverages while France reimburses the cost of the drug to patients submitting receipts.

Approximately 2.1 million individuals worldwide got infected with HIV in 2015. Treatment for HIV is already available, but preventive measures like taking Truvada are considered safer and cheaper.