In Kuala Lumpur, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that an additional 10 public clinics will begin offering HIV-prevention drugs within this year, as the effectiveness of the medicine has been proven. The introduction of free Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a pilot programme last year has already shown positive results in reducing syphilis infections.
As of January, a total of 3,451 individuals have received the harm-reduction treatment. Dr Dzulkefly stated, “According to the early analysis of the pilot project, there has been a reduction in the rate of syphilis infection, from 11% to 6.5% after six months of consuming PrEP, and to 1.3% after a 12-month regime.”
He shared that the percentage of PrEP clients who also began using condoms increased to 38.6% and 44% within six and 12 months, respectively, showcasing a positive impact on safe sex practices. This update was provided during a session at the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (March 20) in response to a query posed by Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi regarding the progress of the PrEP pilot project among high-risk groups.
Dr Dzulkefly assured that the Ministry of Health has actively engaged with religious authorities, including the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) and the National Fatwa Committee (NFC), on the matter. He referenced the decision made by the Perlis fatwa committee last July, which permitted the use of PrEP due to the outweighing benefits over risks.
While emphasizing that LGBT practices are not acknowledged, the ministry’s primary focus remains on safeguarding lives. Dr Dzulkefly emphasized, “We take this approach with responsibility and are evidence-based.”
Currently, free prescriptions of PrEP are accessible at 21 public clinics across the country, with the cost of the drugs covered by the Malaysian Aids Council as part of the pilot programme’s sponsorship.
