Mechanism needed to support HIV-infected people without health insurance

The event aimed to discuss barriers to access legal aid services for vulnerable groups in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and to collect community ideas on draft law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.Ideas at the workshop reflected that many people living with HIV/AIDS have fear of stigma and discrimination, so they don’t want to provide information to participate in health insurance. In particular, some those have health insurance cards but they are willing to pay for medical treatment or go to facilities they aren’t covered by health insurance to hide their disease status.

In addition, many HIV/AIDS-infected people are not ready to buy health insurance cards because they are waiting for support from the government or projects.

Other HIV/AIDS-infected people often face difficulties in identity papers, absence of household registration, or social welfare policy barriers. Therefore, they don’t have access to health insurance cards.

As a result, many people at the workshop said that there should be a mechanism to support people living with HIV/AIDS without health insurance and people living with HIV to be sentenced in prisons.

Mr. Chu Quoc An, former Director of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, proposed to review, amend and supplement some articles of the law in conformity with the new context and aspirations of people living with HIV/AIDS, especially HIV/AIDS prevention services, testing and treatment for all people, ensuring confidentiality and fighting against stigma and discrimination.

Health insurance is determined by the government as a sustainable solution for ensuring HIV/AIDS treatment in general and ARV treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in particular./.