KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has refuted assertions by a religious body that advised against providing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) pills for homosexuals, saying the medication is necessary to stem HIV infections in the country.
In a statement today, MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the high number of HIV infections in the country requires a more effective national prevention strategy that includes PrEP in its implementation.
“With due respect to religious viewpoints expressed on the use of PrEP, the sole purpose of allowing people at the highest risk of HIV access to PrEP is to prevent the spread of HIV in the population and save lives.
“The intended use of PrEP is to prevent HIV infections, and the decision to allow high-risk groups access to it has to be a decision based on scientific evidence in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community,” he said.
He said PrEP also reduces the risk of HIV transmission via sexual intercourse by 99%.
Other nations have adopted the medication as part of their national strategy to prevent the spread of HIV, said Dr Muruga, adding that the Thai Public Health Ministry first introduced PrEP in 2017.
He also noted that apart from the adult population, children can also be at risk of contracting HIV via mother-to-baby transmission.
To ensure better prevention of the spread of HIV, Dr Muruga also stressed that high-risk groups should be given access to the most effective preventive medication available.
“This would be in line with Malaysia's commitment to universal health coverage, where all have equal access to healthcare (including preventive care) and that no one should be left behind,” he said.
Citing the Health Ministry’s data, the cumulative number of reported HIV cases stands at 128,638, while the number of reported new HIV infections was at 2,760.
“The total number of people living with HIV (surveillance data) was 67,822. We estimate cases to be much higher, as the rate of testing is low,” said Dr Muruga.
“Alongside increased education and awareness programs on HIV prevention, MMA believes efforts to reduce the spread of HIV will be significantly more effective.
“However, PrEP alone is not the answer. There is still a need for continuous awareness campaigns on HIV prevention,” he added.
This comes after the Selangor Mufti Department issued an advisory discouraging the dispensation of HIV-preventive drugs to “homosexual lifestyle practitioners”.
The state religious body has since come under fire from various human rights activists and health advocacy organisations for its “uninformed and misleading” message. – The Vibes, January 24, 2023
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