According to a latest published report, as many as 32,000 HIV cases have been prevented in recent times, all thanks to the needle and syringe exchange programs. In addition to HIV, the program has helped snub the spreading of Hepatitis C.

The research was reported, carried out and authored by the University of New South Wales and confirmed that the programs is also helping save on health costs. In over 1,000 places across the country, unused needles and syringes were handed out to drug users and for every $1 spent on a clean needle under the program, the state government ended up saving $4.

As reported in the study, 30 million fresh needles and syringes distributed in Australia every year since 2000 have played a massive role in preventing HIV cases. Direct prevention of 32,000 cases of HIV and around 100,000 Hepatitis C was witnessed. In totality, this amounted to a saving of over $1 Billion in healthcare.

"Not only do these programs save people from dying, but they also save Australians a load of money", said Associate Professor David Wilson who lead the researchers' team.