The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health will examine the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014 and consult the stakeholders before making its recommendations.

The Bill, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 11, 2014, has been referred to the committee for scrutiny and recommendations, to be made within two months time. However, with the general elections coming up in the next few months, the fate of the Bill be decided by the next Government.

The Bill seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS, prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS, provides for informed consent and confidentiality with regard to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard their rights, and creates mechanisms for redressing their complaints.

The Bill lists the various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited. These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to employment, educational establishments, health care services, residing or renting property, standing for public or private office, and provision of insurance (unless based on actuarial studies). The requirement for HIV testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited.

Every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household. The Bill also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them. The Bill requires that no HIV test, medical treatment, or research will be conducted on a person without his informed consent. No person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status except with his informed consent, and if required by a court order.

According to the Bill, the central and state governments shall take measures to prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS, provide anti-retroviral therapy and infection management for persons with HIV or AIDS, facilitate their access to welfare schemes especially for women and children, formulate HIV or AIDS education communication programmes that are age appropriate, gender sensitive, and non stigmatizing, and lay guidelines for the care and treatment of children with HIV or AIDS.  Every person in the care and custody of the state shall have right to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and counselling services.