The government may distribute needles and condoms to drug addicts in order to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids, said Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek today.

He said the ministry, as an initial step, would embark on a six-month pilot project to supply free needles and condoms to 1,200 injecting drug users (IDUs) besides methadone, a drug substitute.

Under the Harm Reduction Programme, the needles and condoms would be supplied through 10 selected government and 10 private clinics nationwide in October after the medical staff have been given proper training.

"We've to consider the needle exchange approach. We are providing them the needles so that they will not share needles.

"In many countries, the results are good in reducing HIV infection rate," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Chua said 61,486 HIV infections, including 8,955 Aids cases, were reported as of September last year, with 7,083 deaths.

He added that 75 percent of the HIV infections or 46,292 cases were IDUs.

Morally neutral

Chua described the ministry's latest move as merely a 'clinical and medical initiative' as existing programmes have failed to reduce the infection rate.

"Morally, we're neutral. Actually, in medical reality, without condoms, HIV will spread," he said, expressing the hope that the public would give their feedback and support for the programme to be implemented.

He said the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Drug Addicts Treatment and Rehabilitation headed by him had considered all available data, including a study conducted in 26 drug rehabilitation centres in 1998.

The study on 6,326 inmates showed that 65 percent of them were IDUs, with 77 percent of them injecting drugs more than three times a day and shared needles with more than five people.

Chua said the study also showed 77.6 percent of the IDUs were sexually active, with only 18.7 percent of them using condoms during sex.