Use of PrEP saves govt over RM40 million in health care costs

NUR IFTITAH ROZLAN NURUL HUDA HUSAIN
02 Mar 2023 03:20pm
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KUALA LUMPUR - The use of Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a prevention method against HIV transmission has saved RM47 million in government costs between 2006 and 2013.

In revealing this, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the figures were from the findings of a study conducted by University Malaya’s Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) on the impact of PrEP on health care costs between 2006 and 2013.

He said this in response to the question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat) on the effects of PrEP on the country's finances.

The PrEP is an additional prevention method, apart from to the current prevention methods such as abstinence advocacy, condoms, and risk education, and has been proven to be successful.

The usage of the medicine, however, did not gain positive views from religious bodies when the Healthy Ministry engaged them for the drug's pilot programme.

"This included the Selangor State Health Department and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department on June 27, 2022.

"There were also discussions between the health ministry and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) on Dec 20, 2022.

"The enaggement process will also be expanded representatives from other religions as well such as Hinduism, Buddhism and the Christianity," he said.

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