Govt to bring a law to help HIV patient: Ramadoss

Mumbai, Mar 23 : Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said at the 'HIV Congress 2008' on Sunday that the Government would bring a new law to prevent people, particularly corporate, doctors and educationists, from shunning persons infected with HIV virus.

He said in the monsoon session the bill will be moved for an Act.

According to a 2007 study by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there are an estimated 2-3 million HIV patients in India.

Ramadoss said that the National AIDS Control Programme would refine the data in order to know the number of HIV patients per District to provide them better medical facilities.

He also criticised doctors for their irrational use of powerful Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) for short periods, which reduce patients' reaction to drugs and have also raised the cost of treatment.

Ramadoss said the Government has set up 147 treatment centres and is planning to give treatment to three lakh patients free of cost in the next three years.

ANI