Progress in implementing Court directives on AIDS

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

[What is the progress in implementing the Court directives on

AIDS in Andhra Pradesh?. Moderator]

In a landmark judgment, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued a

series of direction on steps to be taken by the State Government to

combat AIDS.

These directives came up when a larger bench of the Court, comprising

Justice Satyabrata Sinha, Justice B. Subhashan Reddy, Justice Dr.

Motilal B. Naik, Justice Bilal Nazki, and Justice V.V.S. Rao, was

disposing a writ petition of an HIV positive patient on Wednesday

(August 29).

The bench awarded Rs 1,00,000 as compensation to the wife of an

employee of Singareni Colleries Company Limited in the South Indian

state of Andhra Pradesh. The compensation was without prejudice to

her rights to claim further damages in the civil court.

It was complained that, while she was undergoing treatment in the

hospital of the company, the blood of an HIV patient was transfused

to her without testing; and as such, she tested HIV postive.

The bench, which treated a letter addressed to her as a suo motu writ

petition, issued the following significant directives while disposing

of the plea:

• Sufficient AIDS/HIV kits/equipment should be supplied by the

government to all hospitals and (medical) institutions.

• Blood banks should be compelled to buy requisite tools for testing

blood.

• Government hospitals and registered medical practitioners should be

compelled to use only disposable syringes.

• Bio medical wastes should be properly destroyed.

• The government should undertake awareness programme in rural and

slum areas so that people can take preventive measures.

• Anti-AIDS drugs should be supplied free of cost like anti TB and

anti leprosy drugs.

• Doctors should be encouraged to undergo training for diagnosis and

treatment of AIDS patients.

• Proper schemes should be undertaken for rehabilitation of AIDS

patients.

• There should be special treatment facilities by hospitals for those

who suffer from HIV +ve/AIDS.

• There should be vigilance over licensed blood banks and the

government may introduce sex education in schools at least from

adolescence stage.

• The identity of AIDS patients should not be disclosed. They should

be educated properly.

• There should not be any discrimination in the propaganda for AIDS

awareness, which may promote indiscriminate sex.

• The state government should consider the grant of sales tax

exemption in respect of medicines imported for treatment of AIDS like

central government.

• Subsidies should be provided for hospitals in order to test blood

for HIV +ve/AIDS by the use of latest method of testing.

• The government should issue circulars to all public sector

undertakings and private sector companies to ensure that persons

sufferings from AIDS are identified and given proper treatment.

• The Singareni Colleries Company hospital shall immediately take

measures for rendering special treatment to HIV positive patients

with all requisite infrastructure and latest methods.

• The director of medical and health should oversee the functioning

of hospitals.

Source http://health.sify.com/

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