The Centre is likely to bring in legislation to prevent discriminatory treatment to AIDS patients in the country. Though no details have been put forth, it is stated that the legislation to be enacted would prescribe tough punishments to medical practitioners who refuse to treat AIDS patients besides penalizing by way of de-registration for hospitals refusing to admit AIDS patients.
The legislation, it is stated, is to call for a separate ward for treating AIDS patients in every private and government hospitals. The legislation takes into consideration the act of medical practitioners and hospitals of shying away from treating patients with AIDS/HIV. It also prescribes compulsory training of medical practitioners in handling and treating patients with AIDS/HIV.
The legislation is being enacted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) along with the National AIDS Control Society (NACO).
It is not made clear when the legislation would be ready and implemented, but sources in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare claim the same is expected to be ready and implemented in three to four months time going by the fact that patients with AIDS/HIV are having a harrowing time in availing treatment at various hospitals besides facing discrimination at the hands of the medical practitioners.