Law To Empower, Protect HIV Patients In India Comes Into Force 

Human Immuno-Virus (HIV) Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention And Control) Act 2017, which intends to protect and empower patients with the disease, has come into force from 10 September, Times of India has reported.

The Rajya Sabha had passed the bill in March. HIV AIDS is a viral disease that attacks and weakens the human body’s immune system. As many as 21.17 lakh people are reported to be living with HIV AIDS in India.

The Bill empowers an HIV AIDS affected person to report any discrimination in the fields of public employment, inheritance, jobs, insurance and public facilities. It penalises propagation of hatred against affected persons with a jail term of three months to a maximum of two years, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

It also introduces the ‘test and treat’ policy, which makes free treatment from the central and state governments a legal right for those who test positive. The government will have to provide free Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) under the ‘test and treat’ policy.

The law also provides for confidentiality of test results and treatment provided to an HIV-affected person. The state government will have to appoint an Ombudsman to look into complaints regarding violation of HIV AIDS Act.