KUALA LUMPUR: An average of 3,169 new HIV cases were recorded annually between 2018 to 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Health Ministry said that while there was a 50% drop in cases between 2000 to 2009, a gradual 32% increase was recorded from 2010 to 2025.
According to the ministry, some 3,293 cases were recorded in 2018 followed by 3,564 in 2019, 3,146 in 2020, 2,760 in 2021, 3,177 in 2022, 3,220 in 2023, 3,185 in 2024 and 3,004 preliminary cases in 2025.
"Between 2021 to 2025, up to RM223mil was spent for 25 antiretroviral medication at Health Ministry healthcare facilities," it said in a written reply on Thursday (Jan 22).
The ministry was responding to a question by Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff of Perikatan Nasional, who asked about the number of HIV patients between 2018 to 2026 and the estimated cost spent for HIV treatment.
