Free Condoms And Needles For Addicts Not A Waste- Chua

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- The cost of providing free condoms and syringes to drug addicts is expected to cost RM145 million annually but will help avoid 90,000 new HIV infections, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Monday.

He said the government was seriously thinking of introducing the measure (free provision of needles and condoms to drug addicts) as the cost of treating HIV patients had exceeded RM500 million yearly.

"That is the cost of medication only and does not include other costs," he told reporters after opening the Millennium Development Goals Seminar organised by his ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) here.

Dr Chua said almost 40 per cent of drug addicts who were HIV positive also contracted other illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia which further added to the cost of treatment.

"In short, providing the needles and condoms is not a waste of the people's money ... in terms of savings, it is triple the amount," he said.

Earlier this month, Dr Chua announced that the government was seriously considering providing syringes and condoms for free to drug addicts to stem the spread of HIV.

However, the proposal received various reactions, with ulamas and religious organisations fearing the move would lead to indiscriminate sex while non-governmental organisations lauded the move.

Dr Chua added that he and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamed Zin would meet with ulama groups soon to clarify the issue.

-- BERNAMA