A trend of HIV spreading among a group of school and university students in the country has been identified, and the government is ready to investigate if there is a problem in any place in the distribution of the PrEP drug used for this purpose, said Cabinet Media Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. The Minister stated this while participating in the media briefing held to inform the Cabinet decisions held today (01).
The Minister also said that a percentage increase in these diseases is being reported among adolescents and young people compared to previous years.
HIV. Journalists who attended the cabinet meeting asked whether there is a major problem in the country in the distribution of the PrEP drug used as a basic measure to prevent it.
In particular, this drug is only provided by a few selected hospitals, and journalists pointed out that there is a suspicion that doctors who deal with sexually transmitted diseases are controlling this as a monopoly.
Since the Global Fund, which is providing funds for this project, will end in 2030, journalists also questioned whether the government will have to bear the entire burden if they stop this program midway.
Responding to the questions asked by journalists, Nalinda Jayatissa said that although the National AIDS Control Unit has not officially reported to the Ministry of Health about the shortcomings in the distribution of PrEP in certain places, if information is received about such specific places, the shortcomings will be immediately investigated.