KUCHING – Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, aligning its national agenda with global health goals.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni, delivered the message during the ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Affordable Antiretroviral (ARV) Drugs and Workshop on Strengthening Community Testing for Key Populations, held at a hotel in Kuching on Thursday.
According to Dato Lukanisman, Malaysia has achieved notable progress in its HIV response in 2024, with 64% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 94% of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and 93% achieving viral suppression.
“Despite this progress, early detection remains our biggest challenge,” he noted, calling for more targeted, community-driven strategies.
One such approach is community-based testing (CBT), which allows NGOs and local communities to directly engage high-risk groups for HIV screening. This initiative is further strengthened by the National PrEP Programme, launched in 2023 and currently available at 35 government clinics across the country.
Dato Lukanisman also addressed growing concerns over financial sustainability in combating HIV, following a decline in support from international funding sources such as the Global Fund and PEPFAR. He emphasised the need for affordable access to new-generation ARV drugs like Dolutegravir (DTG) and Tenofovir-Lamivudine-Dolutegravir (TLD).
“Voluntary licensing and group purchasing via regional mechanisms like the Medicines Patent Pool are critical pathways to ensure access,” he stressed.
The event, co-organised by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, Malaysian AIDS Council, Sarawak State Health Department, and Sarawak Government, also served as a regional platform for sharing best practices.
Dato Lukanisman welcomed ASEAN delegates and international partners, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation and innovation to reach the shared goal of ending AIDS in Southeast Asia.
