Sexual activity has become the number one cause of HIV infections in the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told. 

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (above) said sexually transmitted infections increased to 91 percent in 2017 compared to just 33 percent in 2002, although the overall number of cases dropped to 60 percent in the same year compared to 2007. 

He said, as a precautionary measure, the ministry will increase the rate of access to antiretroviral treatment, so that at least 95 percent of the patients could be treated. 

"By the end of 2017 only 54 percent of them received the treatment," he said when winding up the committee-level debate for his ministry on Budget 2019 in the Dewan Rakyat, yesterday. 

He said antiretroviral treatment could generally prevent the spread of HIV through sexual activity by up to 97 per cent. 

Dzulkefly said the ministry would also continue to emphasise on the importance of safe sex for high-risk populations to contain sexually transmitted diseases.

- Bernama