Latest news with #HIV
Euractiv
an hour ago
- Health
- Euractiv
EU approves ‘miracle' HIV injectable, but experts say AIDS fight not over
The EU has approved lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention shot that could replace daily pills, but experts say access still hangs in the balance
9 News
5 hours ago
- Business
- 9 News
Gold Coast death: Tributes for Tye Alroe after property developer dies suddenly at 39
Gold Coast property developer Tye Alroe has died suddenly at the age of 39. The founder and CEO of Alroe Constructions suffered a heart attack while exercising at a Burleigh Heads gym on Tuesday afternoon. He collapsed after feeling unwell, and despite being attended to by emergency service workers, he was unable to be revived. Many have paid tribute to Tye Alroe after his death at the age of 39. (Alroe) Alroe initially embarked on a career in rugby league, being contracted by NRL side Melbourne Storm, but he left before making his debut and entered the construction industry instead. He founded a company called Alroe in 2012, and the company currently has $250 million worth of projects underway or in planning, according to its website. Alroe specialised in projects in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. Several figures within the Gold Coast construction industry paid tribute to Alroe after his death. READ MORE: New breakthrough in fight against HIV after vaccine trials gives positive results "The loss of a pioneer, someone that never quits, never takes no as an answer! You will never be forgotten," said an Instagram post from Capra Build Co. "Unfortunately we have lost one of the better people in this world," began an Instagram post by Callum Smith of Bluewater Interiors. "I'm sure you will be missed by many. You have made a positive impact on so many people and will no doubt be remembered." Alroe is survived by his partner Nikki, daughter Poppy, his mum and dad, Vicki and John, and his sister Courtney.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
From crisis to collaboration: Why harm reduction is Malaysia's public health opportunity — Bakhtiar Talhah
JULY 31 — Almost two decades ago, I stood at the frontlines of Malaysia's HIV epidemic — a time when fear, stigma and silence ruled the discourse around drug use and HIV. The data was grim: some 70 per cent of new HIV infections were among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). We were losing lives, and our response was fragmented at best. We knew something had to change. What followed was bold and unprecedented. With the support of allies across the Ministry of Health, civil society, law enforcement and religious leadership, we launched the Needle and Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) in 2006. At the time, it was politically unpopular. Critics worried it would condone drug use. But we persisted, because science and humanity demanded it. Today, the success is undeniable: HIV transmission among PWIDs and their partners has dropped dramatically. The NSEP saved lives — and transformed mindsets. Yet despite this progress, the underlying policy framework that criminalises and marginalises people who use drugs remains largely intact. Malaysia's drug laws continue to emphasise punishment over rehabilitation, incarceration over care. We cannot meaningfully implement harm reduction while treating drug dependence as a moral failing or criminal offence. This is the core argument: drug policy reform is not just complementary to harm reduction — it is foundational to it. Without reforming our approach to drugs — legally, institutionally, and socially — our harm reduction efforts will always be constrained. We need a national paradigm shift from punitive drug control to public health-based policies. This means decriminalising personal drug use, investing in treatment and prevention services, and empowering community-led initiatives. Other countries have taken this step — and seen measurable public health and economic benefits. Portugal, for instance, decriminalised all drugs in 2001, and instead focused on harm reduction, treatment, and reintegration. As a result, drug-related deaths and HIV infections plummeted. Malaysia must take inspiration and adapt such evidence-based models to our context. And reform doesn't stop with laws. It requires strong political will, inter-agency collaboration, and courage to lead with compassion. When we launched NSEP, success was only possible because of multisectoral alignment — from the Ministry of Health to the Royal Malaysian Police, from NGOs to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM). This is the same spirit we must reignite for wider drug policy reform. Regulation, too, is essential. Harm reduction does not mean lack of control — it demands smart, risk-proportionate governance. Whether it's opioid substitution therapy or access to safer nicotine products, clear and evidence-based regulation ensures both public safety and access to lifesaving tools. This applies directly to Malaysia's fast-evolving tobacco and vape landscape. Overregulation can drive people to unregulated markets; underregulation risks misuse and public backlash. The middle path — firmly regulated but widely accessible harm reduction tools — is where real progress lies. This includes decisive measures such as banning high-risk open-system vape devices prone to adulteration, while maintaining strict controls on other products. Regulation should target illicit and poorly regulated outlets through enhanced enforcement — without punishing law-abiding players who operate within compliance. Bakhtiar Talhah (second left) speaking on a HIV/AIDS advocacy programme. — Picture courtesy of Malaysian AIDS Foundation Enforcement initiatives like Ops Selamat Paru-Paru (Ops Selamat Papa), recently launched by the Ministry of Health, are an encouraging sign that the government recognises the urgency of the issue. However, enforcement has always been the Achilles' heel of public health in Malaysia. Raids, confiscations, and press conferences make headlines, but without sustained follow-through, the illicit market adapts and continues to thrive. For enforcement to succeed, it must be systematic, consistent, and paired with structural reforms: closing loopholes in licensing, disrupting illicit supply chains, and ensuring penalties are applied evenly. Otherwise, Ops Selamat Papa risks becoming another short-lived operation rather than a lasting pillar of harm reduction. Fiscal policy has a role too. In line with public health objectives, tax rates on vape products should be increased relative to cigarettes and heated tobacco sticks. A balanced tax framework can discourage uptake among youth, align with harm reduction goals for smokers, and generate revenue for health programmes. Equally important is the role of the private sector. I have seen firsthand how partnerships with foundations like Yayasan Sime Darby and corporate leaders such as Sunway Group have amplified impact in the HIV and health space. With strategic backing from the Ministry of Finance, the private sector can support innovation, financing, and delivery of sustainable harm reduction programmes. Religious authorities, particularly in Malaysia's Islamic context, have been instrumental in reframing harm reduction as a moral obligation to protect life. Fatwas and views that support methadone programmes and needle exchanges helped legitimise these interventions within the Muslim community. This synergy between faith and evidence is uniquely Malaysian — and powerful. This is why I founded Humanize Malaysia. We are a bridge — linking corporate actors, policymakers, civil society, and communities to drive sustainable change. Our mission is to humanise health, to put people — not ideology — at the centre of policy. The broader opportunity is this: harm reduction must evolve into a cornerstone of Malaysia's public health strategy — not just for HIV, but also for challenges like alcohol abuse, tobacco dependence, rising sugar consumption, and synthetic drug use. Every one of these issues shares a common truth: punitive responses fail. People do not need punishment — they need options, support, and dignity. Across the globe, countries that embraced harm reduction and reformed outdated drug laws are saving lives, reducing crime, and cutting costs. Japan's shift to heated tobacco products has already shown public health benefits and cost savings. In New Zealand, support for safer nicotine products helped halve adult smoking rates in just five years. Malaysia can, and must, be a leader in this space. We already know what works. Data-led policy. Bold political leadership. Corporate partnership. Community empowerment. Religious engagement. These are not new ideas — they are proven ingredients. But they require one thing above all: the courage to shift from criminalising to caring. Let us not wait for another epidemic to force our hand. Let's build on our past successes. Let's expand harm reduction and truly put health and humanity first. Let's humanise policy. Let's humanise health. * Bakhtiar Talhah is the CEO of Humanize Malaysia, trustee of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, and former president of the Malaysian AIDS Council. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
GSK boss 'highly confident' sales will top £40bn by 2031 as firm cashes in on cancer and HIV drugs
GSK's boss said she was 'highly confident' sales will top £40billion by 2031 as the group cashes in on speciality medicines for cancer, HIV and other conditions. With the pharmaceuticals giant's HIV business as well as respiratory and oncology divisions recording double-digit revenue growth, Emma Walmsley said sales and profits are on course to be 'towards the top end' of expectations. Revenues rose 5 per cent to £15.5billion in the first half of the year and profits were up 41 per cent to £4.2billion. Shrugging off the impact of US tariffs, Walmsley added: 'With the breadth of our current business and the growth opportunities we have in our pipeline, we are highly confident in our outlook for sales of more than £40billion by 2031.' The updated guidance had taken into account the tariffs implemented and expected tariffs on European goods.
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Trump targets New York drug ‘injection sites' where addicts consume with the city's blessing
Two city-approved 'safe' drug injection sites could be forced to close under a new executive order issued by President Trump, which rips the facilities, where addicts can use illegal drugs like meth, heroin and cocaine under supervision. Trump's July 24 'Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets' order says the feds should only fund 'evidence-based programs' and not fund 'so-called harm reduction or safe consumption efforts,' which he says 'only facilitate illegal drug use and its attendant harm.' Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) hailed Trump's edict. Advertisement 3 A new executive order issued by President Trump could force two controversial city-approved 'safe' injection sites — where drug addicts can use illegal drugs like meth, heroin and cocaine under supervision — to close. 'I urge the Department of Justice to take immediate action and shut down these centers and put to an end once and for all their operations,' Malliotakis said. Back in January 2021, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia previously ruled 'it is a federal crime to open a supervised injection site or 'consumption room' for illegal drug use,' overruling the District Court for the Eastern District decision. Advertisement Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced her legislation — the Defund Heroin Injection Centers Act of 2025 — which would put into law Trump's executive order and permanently block federal funding for injection sites or 'illicit operations.' In February, she urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to close the two city injection sites operated by OnPointNYC. The two injection sites in the city are in East Harlem and Washington Heights. The injection sites were launched in November 2021 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city Health Department under former President Joe Biden — and continued under Mayor Eric Adams.. In 2023, then-Manhattan US attorney Damian Williams, warned Mayor Eric Adams' administration that the two sites were illegal — but no action was taken to shutter the facilities Advertisement 3 Trump's 'Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets' order, which was issued on July 24, states that the federal government should only fund 'evidence-based programs.' Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The city Health Department defended the injection sites Tuesday as a life saver. 'Syringe service programs play an invaluable role in New York City's successful efforts to prevent and reduce overdose deaths and have been proven effective — evident by the fact that the city saw the lowest number of overdose deaths in four years at the end of last year,' a Health Department spokesperson said. 'Since the 1980s, syringe service programs have reduced the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and prevented countless deaths, while providing on-ramps to broader care. We all want a healthier and safer city but closing the doors to these programs will only further isolate the New Yorkers who rely on these services.' Advertisement 3 Rep. Nicole Malliotakis thanked President Trump for his actions, as well as calling out the Department of Justice 'to take immediate action and shut down these centers and put to an end once and for all their operations.' Michael McWeeney Mayor Adams also previously expressed support for opening more locations. OnPointNYC also has defended the program as a life saver by intervening in overdoses of users. But Malliotakis said government-sanctioned injection sites are destructive — to individuals and the surrounding community. 'Since 2021, New York City has allowed two illegal drug injection sites to remain open, and it's time to shut down these illegal facilities to protect public safety and the quality of life for all New Yorkers,' Malliotakis said. 'I thank President Trump for his executive order addressing homelessness and to end federal funding for all heroin injection sites — the very action my legislation would make permanent.' Trump's executive order also expands civil commitment procedures for individuals on the streets or in the subway with serious mental illness who pose risks to themselves or others. It also prioritizes federal grants for jurisdictions that enforce prohibitions on open drug use and ends support for 'housing first' policies that fail to promote treatment and recovery.
