#HIV/AIDS Bill passed in Parliament
HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill,2014, which provides prevention and control of disease and protection of human rights, of those affected by it, was passed in the Union Cabinet in a meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approving the amendments.
“It will empower the people affected with the disease by giving them legal sanctity,” Health Minister J. P. Nadda said in his reply to the debate in the lower house before the bill was passed.
“The government will provide free treatment to the people infected with HIV. The ministry will soon come out with a new test and treat policy for the people living with HIV for providing free treatment to them,” he said dubbing the bill as patient-centric and progressive in nature.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 21.
Nadda said the government has spent Rs 2000 crores on Anti-Retroviral Therapy drugs for such patients last year, while 22,000 testing facilities for HIV and AIDS are functional in the country. He also appreciated the Indian pharmaceutical companies for manufacturing affordable drugs to tackle the disease.
The bill has provisions such as- central and state governments are obliged to provide for Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) and management of opportunistic infections (infections that take advantage of weakness in the immune system and occur frequently). It also prohibits specific acts of discrimination by the state, or any other person, against HIV-positive people, or those living with such people.
The protection mandated in the Bill extends to the fields of employment, healthcare services, educational services, public facilities, property rights, holding public office, and insurance.
It also provides for confidentiality of HIV-related information and makes it necessary to get informed consent for undertaking HIV tests, medical treatment and research. The Bill lays down penal provisions for any discrimination practised against a person with HIV/AIDS and breach of confidentiality.
Additional provisions of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2014 include that of the role of an ombudsman. According to the provisions of the Bill enlisted in the PRS Legislative Research website, an ombudsman shall be appointed by each state government to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and the provision of health care services. The ombudsman shall submit a report to the state government every six months stating the number and nature of complaints received, the actions taken and orders passed.
Provisions related to guardianship are also specified. A person between the age of 12 to 18 years who has sufficient maturity in understanding and managing the affairs of his HIV or AIDS affected family shall be competent to act as a guardian of another sibling below 18 years of age. The guardianship will be apply in matters relating to admission to educational establishments, operating bank accounts, managing property, care and treatment, amongst others.
Cases relating to HIV positive persons shall be disposed off by the court on a priority basis. In any legal proceeding, if an HIV infected or affected person is a party, the court may pass orders that the proceedings be conducted (a) by suppressing the identity of the person, (b) in camera, and (c) to restrain any person from publishing information that discloses the identity of the applicant. When passing any order with regard to a maintenance application filed by an HIV infected or affected person, the court shall take into account the medical expenses incurred by the applicant.
