HIV is more prevalent in high-risk groups like female sex workers, homosexuals and injecting drug users.
then referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee which gave its report in 2015.
According to the measure, India at present is estimated to have 2.39 million people living with HIV/AIDS, the third highest number after South Africa and Nigeria.
Currently, HIV is more prevalent in high-risk groups like female sex workers, homosexuals and injecting drug users.
Nadda said the bill provides for the appointment of one or more ombudsman in every state, for which the central government will circulate uniform guidelines.
He said the number of employees in a health institutions for appointment of ombudsmand has been reduced to 20 or more employees from earlier provision of 100 or more in cases where the incidence of infection is high.
He explained that this number has been arrived at rationally after taking into consideration the suggestions of the Parliamentary Standing Committee which examined the bill.
While moving the bill for consideration of the House, the Minister said it also provided for informed consent and confidentiality with regard to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard their rights and creates mechanisms for redressing their complaints.
There is a penalty to the tune of Rs one lakh for breach of confidentiality of the patients detail.
The bill says it important for the high-risk groups to access services such as treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing, condoms, clean needles and syringes to prevent HVI transmission to general public.
It is also necessary to address the issue of stigma faced by those infected by HIV and AIDS, to ensure confidentiality and privacy while providing HIV and AIDS related services and recognise the need to safeguard the rights of these patients in both private and public firms, it added.
Participating in the debate on the bill, Vikas Mahatme (BJP) suggested removing the phrase 'as far as possible' for providing medical treatment and replacing it with 'at affordable cost'.
Since patients have low immunity, he said they should not be exposed to security jobs and others, where there are high chances of getting injured.
D Raja (CPI) demanded removal of the phrase 'as far as possible' and suggested strengthening of domestic pharma companies to manufacture medicines to cure the diseases.
Oscar Fernandes (Cong) congratulated the government for the bill and suggested allocation of more funds for research on vaccines for complete cure. (More)
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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