NO to Open Debate on Free Needles and Condoms

Health Minister Declines Open Debate On Free Condoms For Addicts

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, June 10 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Friday he did not wish to engage in an open debate, including through the media, on his ministry's proposal to distribute free needles and condoms to self-confessed drug addicts to check the spread of HIV/Aids.

"I will not respond to any opinion on the matter because at this stage we are still compiling information on the matter," he said.

Speaking at a press conference after visiting the Cameron Highlands Hospital project in Tanah Rata here, he said he would explain the issue at a press briefing after "all sides had expressed their opinion".

The ministry proposed to distribute free needles, condoms and methadone to a group of drug addicts under a pilot programme as a means of checking the spread of HIV/Aids.

Several state governments, including Perak, Terengganu dan Selangor, had opposed the proposal and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali had suggested that the issue be discussed at a special meeting of the Council of Muftis.

"The proposal is part of our responsibility to improve the health of the people ... we do not want to be known as a developing nation with a high incidence of HIV," Dr Chua said.

Meanwhile, he said the government's decision to stop building large hospitals under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and to upgrade existing ones was because the existing 125 hospitals were sufficient and that some of the hospitals were not fully utilised.

He said only one or two places still needed a large hospital while at other places smaller hospitals would be built, or existing hospitals would be upgraded.

He added that small hospitals would be equipped with equipment such as X-rays, maternity wards, children's wards and pharmacies.

According to him, the government would from now adopt the tender system for projects under his ministry to reduce costs. Some hospitals cost more than five star hotels to build, and when the cost was calculated per bed, each bed cost RM1.1 million, he said.

On the Cameron Highlands Hospital, he said it would be completed in March next year.

-- BERNAMA