Cabinet approves amendments to HIV and AIDS Bill, 2014

05 October, New Delhi

The Cabinet has approved amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014. The Bill seeks to safeguard rights of HIV-affected people, as well as to prevent and control spread of HIV and AIDS.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi Wednesday, Health Minister J P Nadda said that if the amendment bill passed in Parliament, it will ensure that every institution having more than 100 people, has a complaint officer to address the grievances of the affected people. He said, those who will not comply the rule will be given punishment of minimum 3 month and upto 2 years with fine of upto one lakh rupees.

Nadda said, the bill has the provision for creating an enabling environment for people living with HIV so that they can get better access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The ART therapy comprises a combination of antiretroviral drugs which are used to suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of the disease.

He said, the provisions of the Bill seek to address HIV-related discrimination, strengthen the existing programme by bringing in legal accountability and establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances.

The Minister said, the Bill also makes provision for appointment of an ombudsman by State Governments to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and penal actions in case of non-compliance.