The HIV/AIDS Amendment Bill 2026 will be debated and voted on in Parliament this Thursday after Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu moved the Bill to be considered without delay under Parliamentary Standing Order 51.
Dr Lalabalavu says the urgent consideration of the Bill is necessary because Fiji is experiencing a generalised HIV epidemic, with injecting drug use contributing significantly to HIV infections.
He says the Ministry of Health is ready to introduce harm reduction measures, including the provision of sterile needles and syringes, but the programme cannot legally begin under the current framework.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj says the Opposition supports the Bill being considered under Standing Order 51 because of the urgency of the HIV and drug crisis.
However, Maharaj says there needs to be wider discussion on how authorities deal with people accessing needles and syringes.
He stresses that providing sterile equipment should not be seen as the final solution.
He says greater focus is also needed on reducing drug use among young people and addressing its impact on families and communities.
