Country profiles on HIV/AIDS
Malaysia
More than 20 years after the first HIV case was reported in Malaysia, 87 710 people living with HIV have been reported in the country by the end of 2009. People who inject drugs (PWID) accounted for 75 percent of the cumulative cases as of 2008. The HIV epidemic is mainly driven by the injection of drugs and a growing heterosexual transmission.
The spread of infections in PWID, however, slowed down after 2005 and is expected to plateau beyond 2010. It is projected that HIV infection through sexual mode will continue to increase.
Under its five-year national strategic plan, Malaysia was able to reduce transmission and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS. It continues to provide better access to prevention, treatment, care and support services. Their very comprehensive and large Harm Reduction Programme is being the basis for the first promising results in the control of the epidemic.
Core HIV and AIDS epidemic and response data
| Indicator | 2001 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| No. PLHIV | ||||
| Total | 40 000 | 80 000 | ||
| Adults | 43 000 | 79 000 | ||
| Adults pre. % | 0.3 | 0.5 | ||
| Women (15+) | 10 000 | 21 000 | ||
| Children < 15 years | ... | ... | ||
| AIDS Death | <1000 | 3900 | ||
| HIV Pre. of MARPs | ||||
| IDU % | 4.5 | 8 | 22.1 | |
| FSW % | 10.5 | |||
| MSM % | 7.1 | |||
| No. people on ART | ||||
| Total | 6800 | 8197 | 9962 | |
| ART coverage % | 35 | 23(a) | ||
| No. pediatric patients on ART | 500 | 501 | ||
| No. receiving ARV for PMTCT | 183 | 189 | 300 | |
| PMTCT coverage % | 15 | |||
(a) Estimate based on 2010 WHO ART guideline.
Sources and notes:
- 2001 and 2007 data: UNAIDS/WHO 2008 Update: Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV and AIDS.
- 2008 and 2009 data: WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF: Towards Universal Access: Scaling up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector, Progress Report 2009 and 2010.