HIV/AIDS IN SOCIETY
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Teenagers favour a plan to allow them to have free HIV/Aids tests at general hospitals without parental permission, a survey has revealed. The poll conducted by the youth network against HIV/Aids that targeted 2,000 students aged below 18 in 20 provinces showed that 86% agreed with the Medical Council of Thailand's plan to amend its regulations.
The poll results were released yesterday during the first public hearing on the issue with lawyers, academics and representatives from youth, parental and teacher networks, and medical research organisation PATH.
The existing regulation allows HIV testing at general hospitals throughout the country only with parental consent. HIV testing for teenagers aged below 18 can be provided at private clinics without parental permission.
However, the number of these clinics is insufficient and could hinder their access to blood tests and Aids counselling.
This was disappointing given that there had been an increase in new HIV cases, especially among the young, in Thailand, said Kittipan Kanjina, a representative of the youth network against HIV/Aids.
During the hearing, all delegates unanimously agreed with the regulation amendment. A weak prevention policy was blamed for an increase in the number of new Aids cases in the country from 14,000 last year to 20,000 this year.
Assistant Secretary-General of the council, Pairote Boonsirikamchai, said it would take a few months to finalise the regulation amendment.
Teen students would not have to pay for the tests as they were listed under the National Health Security Office-managed universal healthcare scheme.
Earlier this month, health activists and people living with HIV/Aids called for an end to a blood testing policy which requires state civil servants and employees of private companies to have their blood tested.
They said the policy violated human rights principles.
The Labour Ministry has finished the public hearing process and would table a draft about policy revocation to the national Aids committee next month, Thai NGO Coalition of Aids chairwoman Supatra Nakaphew said.
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