Union government’s Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017, assumes significance as it protects people living with HIV from specific acts of discrimination by the state, or any other person, according to medical experts.

The new legislation brings people living with HIV and AIDS to be guaranteed equal rights in medical treatment, admission to educational institutions and jobs.

India has taken a major leap in fighting this stigma against HIV positive persons and hence removing the discrimination paving the path for a better quality of life for HIV patients. The bill prevents discrimination against people diagnosed to have HIV  which marks a historic moment towards the free treatment of HIV patients in the country, said Dr Gireesh Kumar K P, Clinical Professor and Head, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi.

AIDS is caused by a virus, human immune deficiency virus, which reduces the CD4 cells in patient’s body. Once CD 4 cells fall to a critical level patient develops all sort of illnesses and various cancers which are not usual in normal persons. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be used to treat the virus and these drugs are capable to stop the growth of HIV virus in body. An HIV infected person with regular ART can expect improved health and live like any other normal human being.

But now because of good ART treatment regimens most of the patients are able to lead a quality life. But even then, community still has the same old approach to these patients. HIV patients face discrimination from all corners of the community. This is mainly because of lack of awareness about the HIV infection. HIV never spreads through sharing of rooms, toilets, food, shake hands, mosquito bite etc. So, it is not fair to discriminate HIV patients at home, work places, hospital. HIV must be treated as any chronic illness and insurance coverage must be available for all these patients, he added.

To treat the disease, treatment with new age ART is not deemed enough. Proper counselling is required at hospitals to all persons who is subjected for HIV screening tests, both pre-test and post-test counseling must be given. Test and reports must be fully confidential. It is the duty of the treating doctor or counselor to explain the patient how to avoid further spread of infection from patient to others. So better understanding about HIV to public is more important in avoiding infection and discrimination, said Dr. Kumar.