Health checks including HIV tests for fresh uni students not new - minister

Requiring new university students to undergo health screenings including HIV testing has been in practice for some time, said Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir.

It is a standard procedure for students to submit medical reports when enrolling at institutions of higher learning (IPT) in the country, he added.

"This has already been done before but this time it has been publicised, perhaps due to discussions at the parliamentary level asking about the numbers and so on.

"The process involved is from a medical standpoint; medical reports for students entering university are all done, so it's not something new," he told reporters briefly after opening the Kangar Umno division delegates meeting today.

The Umno supreme council member was asked about a news report urging universities to mandate HIV testing for new students following an increase in cases involving those in the 18 to 25 age group.

In the report, Universiti Malaya Students Union interim president Nazirah Abdullah was quoted as saying that the spread of HIV has not been effectively tackled at the campus level due to a lack of effort in formulating policies and implementing awareness programmes for students.

This call follows media reports on July 4 highlighting Zambry’s statements in Parliament regarding a worrying trend in HIV infections among students at local higher education institutions.

Zambry said data from the Health Ministry shows there has been an increase in cases from 2021 to 2023.

In 2020, a total of 214 students from public and private institutions were reported to have HIV. However, the number decreased to 186 cases in 2021, rose to 221 in 2022 and increased further to 244 cases last year.

- Bernama

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