Why in News?

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification for bringing the HIV AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 in force from 10th September, 2018.
•  The Act safeguards the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV.

Provisions of the Act:

• The provisions of the Act 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 Act lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited.
• These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to:
• Employment
• Educational establishments
• Health care services
• Residing or renting property
• Standing for public or private office
• Provision of insurance
• The requirement for HIV testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited.