Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Pharmacists support making anti-HIV drug available to all

 


The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has expressed support for the Health Ministry's move to dispense an anti-HIV drug for free at selected Klinik Kesihatan outlets.

This comes after some Muslim healthcare professionals said dispensing the drug to those practising "homosexual lifestyles" is against their faiths, while the Selangor Mufti Department said it is forbidden to do so, except for married heterosexual couples living with HIV.

MPS president Amrahi Buang said while there are concerns on religious lines, the MPS holds the position that everyone has the right to healthcare and preventative medicine.

Amrahi said pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a registered and legal drug, which is already part of the National Strategic Plan to end AIDS by 2030. 

"We understand that different religions may have varying views on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis. However, the reality is that HIV requires a non-religious intervention and prevention programme.

"The MPS supports the Ministry of Health's decision on PrEP and encourages Malaysians to do the same," he said.

'Important tool in the fight against HIV'

Amrahi said the MPS is also proud to support the initiative to dispense PrEP and encourages all Malaysians to do the same.

MPS president Amrahi Buang

"PrEP is an important tool in the fight against HIV," he said.

The Health Ministry is dispensing PrEP for free to target groups at selected public clinics, as part of a two-year pilot study funded by The Global Fund, an international body working against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

It is expected to reach 10,000 people at selected public clinics in Selangor, the Klang Valley, Johor, Penang and Sabah.

The PrEP has a 99 percent efficacy rate of preventing HIV transmission through sex and a 74 percent efficacy of preventing transmission through injection.

It reduces the viral load in an infected person’s body so they cannot transmit it through sex or injection.

Sexual transmission is now the main driver of HIV transmission in Malaysia.

Men who have sex with men are expected to be the main key population affected by HIV in Malaysia in 2030, according to projections published by the Health Ministry. - Mkini

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