WHO recommends HIV drug for MSM group

MANILA, Philippines - Men having sex with men (MSM) must now take medicine normally used by people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to avoid the deadly disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly recommended the use of anti-retroviral (ARV) for MSM to prevent further rise in HIV infections worldwide.

“Rates of HIV infection among men who have sex with men remain high almost everywhere and new prevention options are urgently needed,” WHO said.      

WHO said the use of ARV as preventive prophylaxis aside from condom use can prevent the spread of HIV among MSM.

“Bold policies can deliver bold results,” WHO’s HIVdepartment head Dr. Rachel Baggaley said.

The new “consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations” was released by the WHO in the lead-up to the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia starting July 20.

HIV incidence among men who have sex with men globally could be reduced by 20 to 25 percent through pre-exposure prophylaxis, WHO said.

Based on studies, female sex workers are 14 times more likely to have HIV than other women; men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to have HIV than the general population; and transgender women are almost 50 times more likely to have HIV than other adults.

For people who inject drugs, studies show the risk of HIV infection can be also 50 times higher than the general population.

According to WHO, failure to provide adequate HIV services to key groups, including MSM, people in prison, people who inject drugs, sex workers and transgender people, threatens global progress on the HIV response.

“These people are most at risk of HIV infection yet are least likely to have access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. In many countries they are left out of national HIV plans, and discriminatory laws and policies are major barriers to access,” WHO said.