Pormal ng nilagdaan ni Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco Duque III at ilang opisyal ang implementing rules and regulations (IRR) ng Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy.
Kasamang pumirma ni Duque ang mga miyembro ng Philippine National AIDS Council.
Sa ilalim ng batas, tiyak na may edukasyon, treatment at suporta ang mga Pillipino sa human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Binibigyan din nito ng direktiba ang mga pampubliko at pribadong establisyimento na isama ang HIV at AIDS sa kanilang workplace policy.
“The new HIV and AIDS law embeds human rights laws in initiatives, lowers the age of testing and is expanded to indigenous peoples and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” ani Duque.
“The law ensures that key population groups are provided education, treatment, care and support. There can be no Universal Health Care without care for all of our PLHIV and AIDS patients.”
Nakasaad din sa naturang batas ang right to confidentiality ng mga pasyenteng magpo-positibo sa sakit.
Mahaharap sa mabigat na parusa ang sino mang lalabag o magsasapubliko ng pribadong impormasyon ng positive patients.
“The rights of patients to confidentiality is upheld by imposing harsher penalties when information on testing and treatment of individuals are disclosed, without written consent, by persons with access to these information.”
Batay sa datos ng DOH, nasa 36 na bagong kaso ng HIV ang naitatala kada araw mula noong Abril at 29-porsyento mula rito ay mga kabataang nasa edad 15 hanggang 24 taong gulang.
“No PLHIV (person living with HIV) shall be denied or deprived of private health insurance under a Health Maintenance Organization and private life insurance coverage under a life insurance company on the basis of a person’s HIV status.”
Nitong Enero nang lagdaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang batas na nag-amiyenda sa Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.
