No Discrimination Against Anyone Over Medical Treatment, Modi Government Drafts Charter Of Rights

The Union government is working on a charter of rights which aims to gives all the patients the right to medical treatment irrespective of the illness, medical condition reports Livemint.

The right to treatment can be availed by anyone including HIV patients and the LGBT community. The charters drawn up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will be implemented by health ministry implement through state governments after the final draft is finalised after considering comments from stakeholders. The current draft is available on the website for comments by public and stakeholders.

The draft entrusts the hospital management to ensure that no form of discrimination is done on a patient under the hospital’s care, the draft also mandates hospitals to give directions to doctors and other staff to this regard.

“Every patient has the right to receive treatment without any discrimination based on his or her illnesses or conditions, including HIV status or other health condition, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, linguistic or geographical/social origins.” says the draft report on the website.

The move is also likely to come as a boon to the HIV patients and the LGBT+ community since they are most subjected to social discrimination and their mention in draft reinforces their rights.

Government is focusing on the medical rights of the LGBTQ community as well as HIV/AIDS patients. The society needs to overcome the stigma and ensure that the best medical treatment is made available to them. Mint reported Alok Saxena, joint secretary, Union health ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Union Government had also announced the enforcement of HIV and AIDS Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017. The aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS. The law also prohibits any form of discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS and provides for informed consent and confidentiality in their medical treatment.