Rajya Sabha panel advocates insurance for HIV positive people

New Delhi, May 9 : There shall be no discrimination in providing health and life insurances to HIV positive people and it should “preferably” at regular rate of premium, a standing committee of Rajya Sabha has said in a report on a bill to stop discrimination against those suffering from HIV/AIDS. The Rajya Sabha’s standing committee on the health ministry, in a report examining The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014, has also asked central government to form guidelines for the appointment of ombudsman, who play a crucial role as per the bill.According health ministry data, India is estimated to have 2.39 million people living with HIV/AIDS, the third highest number after South Africa and Nigeria. The bill seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS, prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS, provides 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.The panel, in its report said there shall be no discrimination with HIV positive people while providing insurance cover. “The committee is of the opinion that all HIV positive people should be provided insurance cover without any discrimination preferably at normal rate of premium or they may be charged slightly higher rate of premium but in no case exorbitant rate of premium should be charged from HIV positive people for providing insurance cover for both life and health insurance,” said a report of a select committee of Rajya Sabha, tabled in the house recently.