Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman notes that diabetes kills more people than HIV in South Africa and that the burden from NCDs, like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, is increasing globally.
UNAIDS' 2022 report found an "alarming" increase in HIV infections among key populations in Malaysia (gay men and other men who have sex with men; sex workers; transgenders; people who inject drugs; prisoners).
The NPRA approved TELDY tablets, the first dolutegravir-based combination treatment registered in Malaysia for HIV, based on a voluntary licensing agreement between MPP and ViiV Healthcare.
Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman says people who use drugs are disproportionately affected by HIV and viral hepatitis because of criminalisation, stigmatisation, and underfunding.
Khairy Jamaluddin says MOH data is based on risk factors for HIV like unprotected sex by not wearing condoms, rather than sexual orientations like LGBTQ.
The recent price for Tivicay in Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan was reportedly between US$1,800 (RM7,345) and US$2,160 (RM8,814) per patient annually.
The positive aspects of Covid-19, like how most won’t get severe disease, is not highlighted in the media that amplifies bad news instead, feeding public fear and stigma.