(From left) Dr Ismuni, Lukanisman, Jamilah Anu, and Dr Veronica pose for a photo call after the opening ceremony of the Asean Regional Dialogue on Affordable ARV Drugs and Promoting CBT. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (July 17): Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni acknowledged that the high cost of antiretroviral (ARV) medication remains one of Malaysia’s major challenges in HIV prevention and treatment.
The government, he said, is actively pursuing regional joint procurement efforts to reduce prices.
He stated that Malaysia is advocating for the use of Asean’s regional cooperation platform to collectively procure ARV drugs, aiming to reduce the costs through shared procurement mechanisms.
“Malaysia is championing regional cooperation through joint procurement platforms.
“Many of these medications are tied to intellectual property protections, so a collaborative approach could help us negotiate better prices and improve access,” he told a press conference after officiating the Asean Regional Dialogue on Affordable Antiretroviral (ARV) Drugs and the Promotion of Community-Based Testing (CBT) here today.
Lukanisman further revealed that the current monthly cost of the new‑generation TLD (Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Dolutegravir) regimen is approximately RM200.
“The TLD costs around RM200 per month, but we want to reduce it to at least RM100 per month.
“While the price is actually higher than the previous ARV, it is more efficient to treat patients with this TLD,” he noted.
He also highlighted Malaysia’s dependence on imports, primarily from India, where producers benefit from economies of scale and advanced biosimilar technology.
“We don’t yet have the capacity to manufacture these high‑end ARVs domestically,” he said.
In addition to treatment, Lukanisman emphasised the expansion of the national Pre‑Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, now available at 35 Ministry of Health (MoH) clinics, including those in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
Despite early criticism, he defended PrEP as “not just treatment, but a form of protection, especially for groups at high risk,” stressing that equal access to healthcare is a fundamental right.
The ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Affordable ARV Drugs and promoting CBT is organised by the MoH, running from July 17 to 19 at the Hilton Hotel here.
The dialogue is a strategic collaboration between the MoH, the state government, the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, the Malaysian AIDS Council, and regional partners from Asean member states.
The three-day forum brings together policymakers, health experts, and community representatives to strengthen regional cooperation in ending AIDS by 2030, through affordable treatment and expanded community testing.
Among those present were the Patron of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation Borneo Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Deputy Director General of Public Health Dr Ismuni Bohari, and State Director of Health Dr Veronica Lugah.
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