No HIV Screening For Those Tying The Knot

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- The government has no plans yet to make it mandatory for couples intending to get married to go through HIV screening, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad said.
He, however, said those in the "high-risk" groups were encouraged to do blood screening for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes the deadly AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) disease.
"Sreening and diagnosis will allow for early treatment to be administered to HIV carriers and ensure that patients do not spread the disease to their partners through sexual contact.
"The public, including those who plan to get married, should go for HIV screening in any government clinic," he said in reply to Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (Pas-Pengkalan Chepa) in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.
He said some states such as Johor and Perak already made it mandatory for Muslim couples intending to marry to go for HIV screening.
Abd Latiff also revealed that in the first eight months of this year, a total of 1,790 patients reportedly experienced side-effects from medicines administered to them. There were 2,363 cases last year.
He said the Malaysian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (MADRAC) was set up to monitor the adverse effects of medicines among patients in Malaysia.
"The focus is on adverse effects that are life threatening, can cause hospitalisation, needing long treatment, and babies to be deformed."
He said that the Drug Control Authority would review the registration status of fatal or dangerous medicines.
"The authority can order these medicines to be suspended or banned," he added.