Healthcare legislation: Governor promulgates HIV AIDS ordinance

It will protect people suffering from the disease in all spheres of life, says law minister.

KARACHI: Sindh Law Minister Mehmood Mandviwalla on Wednesday announced that Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has promulgated the Sindh HIV Aids Control, Treatment and Protection Ordinance, 2013.

In a statement, the minister said that this was the first HIV Aids legislation in the region adding that it would help control the spread of the virus in the province. “It will help protect people living with HIV from discrimination in all spheres of life, including healthcare, employment and education,” he added.

Mandviwalla pointed out that Pakistan was facing an Aids epidemic and that the government had tried to control the epidemic since 1987, when the first case of the disease emerged, through its National Aids Control Programme and the Provincial Aids Control Programme.



“After the 18th Amendment, health has become a provincial subject which is why it is vital to take urgent measures to control the disease.”

Through the ordinance, the Sindh Aids Commission will be formed to advise the government on issues of prevention, control, care, support and treatment. The minister also mentioned that the ordinance paved the way for the establishment of a one-window health care facility for the patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2013.