GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND NEEDLE-VENDING MACHINES TO
FIGHT HIV/AIDS: DOH

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Department of Health (DOH) is planning to
expand the coverage of vending machines providing clean needles and
syringes around the island in its bid to cut HIV/AIDS transmission, a
health official said yesterday.

Yang Shih-yang, a section chief of the DOH Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), made the remarks while reporting at a meeting of the
Interior Committee of the Legislative Yuan on the feasibility of
legislation on alternative treatment for drug abusers. Also in
attendance were Interior Minister Lee Yi-yang and officials from the
DOH, the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency.

Yang noted that since the DOH began a program to cut HIV/AIDS
transmission by providing clean needles and syringes as well as
alternative treatment -- mainly methadone therapy -- in July 2006, it
has borne fruit.

Methadone is a drug used to wean addicts off heroin.

As of October 2008, there were 1,137 outlets providing clean needles
and syringes,and 66 medical institutions providing alternative treatment.

Legislator Hou Shui-sheng of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) suggested providing clean needles and syringes through
additional automatic vending machines,instead of the current channels
- -- mainly drug stores and convenience stores -- in some cities and
counties.

Yang said the CDC is planning to do just that next year, so that
addicts can get access to clean needles and syringes even after the
drug stores are closed.

On misgivings about giving methadone therapy to drug abusers, a lot
of whom are also HIV carriers, Lee said some addicts might have to
spend more than NT$3,000 (US$93) per day for drugs, resulting in many
to resort to crime to pay for their habits, while methadone costs
only NT$18 per day.

Statistics show that robberies were cut by 30 percent last year, he
added.

He noted that in the future, drug prevention will move toward the
goal of stemming the problem at its roots, adding that the crackdown
will focus on illegal drug manufacturing, smuggling and
cultivation.

According to DOH tallies, a total of 2,942 new HIV/AIDS cases were
reported in 2006, compared with 3,399 cases in the previous year,
marking the first time in 22 years that the number has fallen.

Meanwhile, the ratio of drug-addicted HIV carriers has also decreased
from 73 percent in 2005 to 60 percent in 2006.