i. ii. iii. CHAPTER 1 Dato’ Dr. Muhammad Radzi, who represented MOH, said the ministry had launched a national strategic plan. A pilot project was conducted in Pokok Sena Prison in January 2020, where all 1,797 (100%) newly admitted inmates between January and March 2020 were screened for HCV. The result of the pilot project showed the following: Full scale, pre-admission HCV screening in prison is indeed feasible; Prevalence of HCV infection in Malaysian prison matches the global trend; Few weak links need to be improved - the logistics factor concerning the specimens and lab results, coordination between the prisons and healthcare providers , and simplifying the workflow for the HCV screening. Moreover, the RTD was told that MOH has allocated a considerable budget for HCV management in prisons and with such an allocation, medicine supply, in theory, is not an issue. MOH has also developed a comprehensive guideline for HIV, HCV and tuberculosis in prisons, which the Prisons Department Director has agreed in principle to follow in Malaysian jails. A pilot project has been planned for Kajang Prison, where resident doctors will be trained with experts’ supervision. The pilot will test the success of the guideline. The discussion noted the government’s acknowledgement that HCV treatment in a prison setting should be given due attention, and necessary steps have to be taken by all the relevant agencies to formulate shortterm, medium, and long-term solutions together. SUHAKAM recommends that there be follow-up discussions regularly for updates from the relevant government agencies on the progress of the MOH and Prisons Department’s plans to provide HVC treatment in prisons. 9. PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOSHUA HILMY AND RUTH SITEPU SUHAKAM conducted two public inquiries into the disappearances of individuals. The inquiries into Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat’s disappearance concluded in 2019. In February this year, SUHAKAM began its third public inquiry into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu. As of October, a total of 19 witnesses have been called to testify. The hearing was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ANNUAL REPORT 2020 45