OneWorld.net (U.S.)

In a bid to step up efforts to prevent and cure AIDS, the government is planning to introduce a legislation in Parliament to empower AIDS afflicted people to lead a life of dignity.

Announcing this at a conference organised by CII, along with National AIDS Control Organisation, Kapil Sibal, minister of state for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, said this would pave the way for enactment of similar laws in other countries.

Addressing the gathering former US President, Bill Clinton, applauded the proposed launch of a Health Smart Card, a medical record card for HIV /AIDS infected people. “The proposed smart card will become the norm for health records for every home, in every society of the world,” he added.

Lauding the role of the Indian pharma industry in bringing down the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment, Mr Clinton said there is an urgent need to bring down the costs further for wider access. According to SY Quraishi, additional secretary, ministry of Health and Family Welfare and director general, NACO, as per the latest estimates there are 5.13m HIV infected people in the country.

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