Malaysia leads push for collective Asean action on HIV treatment affordability

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUCHING: With the cost of treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in Asean countries likely to soar as the number of new cases rise sharply yearly, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni has called on member states to work collectively to lower the cost of treatment to affordable and equitable level.
With international funding across the region shrinking, he said, member states must therefore move forward not in isolation, but as a unified region.
Opening the Asean regional dialogue on affordable anti-retroviral drugs and workshop on promoting community-based testing for key population here, he warned that their failure to cut the high cost of treatment leaves Asean countries at risk of losing the momentum of their fight in tackling HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
"With significant reductions in support from global mechanisms such as the Global Fund and PEPFAR, Asean countries are at risk of losing critical momentum. This is especially alarming when we consider the increasing cost burden of providing HIV services."
PEPFAR is the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief,a United States government initiative launched in 2003 by former president George W. Bush to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Lukanisman said if Asean could secure equitable access to treatment, it would keep the grouping "firmly on the path to ending AIDS by 2030".
Later, in his press conference, he said the cost of treatment per victim is RM500 per year.
But with the new drug called TLD — TenofovirLamivudine-Dolutegravir — the cost is RM209 per year.
"But we are trying to reduce it to RM100."
He said ensuring access to affordable next-generation anti-retroviral drugs, especially Dolutegravir (DTG) and TLD, becomes even more urgent.
"These medications are essential for sustaining treatment success and are aligned with World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended regimens. We must collectively explore strategies to secure better pricing, voluntary licensing and regional procurement solutions through mechanisms such as the Medicines Patent Pool."
Reeling figures on HIV cases in the country,Lukanisman said there has been "a huge decrease" of 50 per cent since 2010.
"Malaysia has made notable progress in the national HIV response, with our 2024 treatment cascade now standing at 64–94–93. This means 64 per cent of people living with HIV in Malaysia know their status, 94 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 93 per cent of those on treatment are virally suppressed."
The target set, he said , was 95-95-95.
He said while Malaysia is proud of its high treatment and viral suppression rates, the biggest gap the country must urgently address is in diagnosis.
"To reach the first 95 target, we must find innovative and targeted approaches to increase HIV screening and diagnosis, especially among key populations. One of the most effective strategies is community-based testing (CBT) — testing led by communities, for communities.
"It is a strategy proven to reach individuals who might not, otherwise, access health facilities due to stigma, discrimination, or other barriers. CBT, particularly when led by key population groups or trusted non-governmental organisations, is not only efficient, it is empowering."
More than 15 health experts from Brunei, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and host Malaysia are attending the workshop.