Al-Marsad Newspaper: The Ministry of Health announced an executive regulation for the prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The ministry explained that the regulation aims to combat the disease, respect the rights of the patient, and clarify his obligations to contribute to his treatment and prevent the transmission of the disease to others, stressing the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of information regarding the patient, and obligating him to abide by the preventive instructions decided by the health authorities.
The Ministry is scheduled to present the regulation for survey on the “Estisa’a” platform of the National Competitiveness Center on Sunday (Sunday), and the following are the highlights of the regulation:
The system aims to classify “AIDS” as an infectious disease, and to implement the procedures and measures set out in the system and its regulations to prevent it, preserve the rights of the infected and their contacts, and clarify their duties.
The regulation affirmed that health authorities provide diagnostic and treatment services for AIDS patients and patients, and that all medical personnel must provide the appropriate medical care available to them for these patients, and care is not limited to specialized centers only. .
Punishment for abstaining from providing service to the patient
The regulation stressed that surgical interventions, anesthesia, endoscopy, dental treatment, or any other necessary procedures, whether emergency or routine, for those infected and AIDS patients, should not be refused, while taking the necessary preventive precautions to prevent disease. .
The regulation stipulates providing the necessary health care to the infected pregnant woman and her fetus, and it is not permissible for her to have an abortion or deprive her of custody or care for her children because of her injury.
School seats
The regulation stated that educational authorities, in coordination with the National AIDS Control Program, must adopt appropriate mechanisms that allow those infected to continue education in all its stages in a manner that guarantees their educational seats in the same public and private schools in which the general public is present in the community, and these educational authorities have no right to prevent them from their right to education or to continue it. .
The regulation confirmed that the injured has the right to work in all appropriate professions according to the criteria specified by the national program, and it is not permissible to prevent him from working because of his injury, and the work authority has the right to take precautionary measures and measures to preserve the rights of dealers and limit the spread of the disease.
The regulations specify the cases in which HIV testing is imposed, and they include applicants for civil and military health colleges and institutes, applicants for positions covered by the health staff, applicants for military positions, premarital examinations, and pregnant women, any case that the Minister deems to be included in the examination in coordination with the Saudi Health Council.
It also clarified the cases that must be examined to ensure that they are free from infection with the virus, including people who have signs or symptoms of AIDS or a behavior with which they may be infected with the acquired immunodeficiency virus, or when donating blood and its derivatives, bone marrow and organs, or before issuing a residence permit for expatriates to the Kingdom, and the offender. The victim in cases of rape.
The regulation also stipulates that the Ministry of Health shall take the necessary measures to examine those coming to the Kingdom with the intention of working or residing there. This is to ensure that they are free of infection, and groups coming for other than work, study or residence are excluded from the examination.
The regulation stated that victims of infection with the virus or disease due to intentional or accidental infection may; Submit an application for compensation for the injury damage, and whoever deliberately transmits the infection to others or intentionally transmits the disease to others shall be obligated to compensate.
Deportation of the injured resident
The regulation stipulates that in the event that an expatriate residing in the Kingdom is diagnosed with the disease, the national program will assess his health status, the risks posed to public health, and recommend the need for deportation or not, while providing health care according to the system throughout his stay in the Kingdom.
Residents infected with HIV and who do not claim special rights, following the liquidation of their rights, are immediately deported to their countries or any other country of their choice, and cases of people infected with this disease are considered urgently.
Imprisonment and fine
The regulation stipulates that a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand riyals, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both, shall be imposed in the event that the necessary health care is not provided to the infected pregnant woman and her fetus, or if she is forced to have an abortion or is deprived of custody or care for her children because of infected, or if the health authorities disclosed the patient’s information, or if the injured did not abide by the health guidelines to treat him and prevent the transmission of infection.
