The National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS 2006-2010 concentrates on reducing the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS by using harm reduction approaches and by increasing access to HIV prevention, care and treatment for affected populations.

Strategies to address the HIV epidemic include strengthening leadership and advocacy at the highest government levels to address stigma and discrimination and to increase access to HIV services. Upgrading surveillance systems and human resources through training is also part of the HIV National Strategic Plan.

The National Strategic Plan identifies the following groups as highly vulnerable to HIV: commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, trans-sexuals, mobile populations including documented and undocumented migrants, displaced persons and refugees.

The Plan's objectives are to raise awareness on HIV risk behaviours through HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health information and education; to promote the use of condoms; and to provide mobile populations with VCT services including mobile units.

The Malaysian Government aims to develop and amend policies and laws to address discrimination, and to increase vulnerable populations' access to services and programmes in a culturally appropriate manner.

HIV testing is mandatory for incoming prospective migrant workers and for the annual renewal of work permits under the Policy of Mandatory Testing.

Due to the government's concerns over potential health risks to Malaysians, migrants have to undergo three mandatory medical screenings in the first two years of their arrival. Female migrant workers are also tested for pregnancy.

If migrants have tested positive for pregnancy or any infectious diseases including HIV, they face deportation. Provisions for treatment, medical assistance and post-test counseling have been developed in the case of deportation but remain difficult to access for migrants. Also, there is no referral system for migrants who are HIV positive or considered unfit, which hinders potential follow up, care and treatment in migrants' origin country.

The confidentiality of results in mandatory HIV testing remains an issue. The Foreign Workers Medical Examination Agency is in charge of medical screenings and notifies the Immigration Department of the HIV test results; the Immigration Department then informs the employer.

Health information and education programmes for migrant workers are not available through formal channels in Malaysia. Some NGOs work with migrants to increase their awareness of their rights and of health issues; however the limited number of NGOs and lack of resources available make reaching out to the large number of migrant workers very difficult.

Refugees with appropriate UNHCR documentation are able to receive medical services at government hospitals at subsidised cost.

The Government of Malaysia funds two thirds of the cost of ARV drugs for refugees. Recently, the Czech Embassy in Kuala Lumpur provided UNHCR with USD 19,000 to implement a nine month project aimed at reaching 1,000 refugees in Malaysia with health care services.