Harm Reduction Program Malaysia

Harm reduction in malaysia consists of the needle and syringe exchange programme nsep at the site and methadone maintenance therapy mmt.

Harm reduction program malaysia. Despite the official recognition that the harm reduction programme may have been successful in reducing hiv transmission concerns have been raised that public funding for these activities may not. The aim of this program is mainly to prevent blood borne viral infections hiv hepatitis c hepatitis b due to needles sharing methadone replacement therapy takes place when a patient is prescribed with methadone by a medical officer and the consumption is supervised by a pharmacist. Prevention of hiv transmission through the sharing of needles and syringes. Kuala lumpur march 2011 ministry of health malaysia world health organization western pacific regional office and world health organization office of the representative for brunei darussalam malaysia and singapore.

2011 the malaysian government has invested a total of rm69 3 million for harm reduction programme. Of the malaysia national strategy on hiv and aids 2011 2015 draft recognises the urgency of sustaining and scaling up existing comprehensive prevention interventions i e. Reducing hiv vulnerability in injecting drug users. Malaysia s harm reduction programme was somewhat controversial with opponents criticising what appeared to be legitimising of illicit drug use reid kamarulzaman sran 2007.

Introduced by the ministry of health in partnership with the malaysian aids council in 2006 the nsep broke new grounds in providing direct community based health care services for people who inject drugs nationwide. Methadone replacement therapy mrt is one of the harm reduction program established for opioid abusers. The needle syringe exchange programme nsep remains on the front line of the harm reduction approach to reduce hiv vulnerability among people who inject drugs. The successful piloting of substitution therapies in particular methadone and buprenorphine is cause for genuine hope for the rapid development of such interventions.

Harm reduction initiatives have only recently been introduced in malaysia.