Such targeted stigma, discrimination and criminalisation inevitably lead to the further marginalisation of an already marginalised community, which is a disaster for public health.
What needs to urgently improve is the availability, affordability and accessibility of new and improved treatments for diseases such as cancer and rare diseases.
We hope that the Ministry of Health in future measures will also share its plans to address the East Malaysia healthcare gap where there is an urgent need to bridge this urban-rural divide.