Republic Act No. 8504, Republic of the Philippines

Republic Act No. 8504

Date:    July 22, 1996

Source:    Republic of the Philippines, Congress and Senate

Subject:    Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998

Text:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that recognizes no territorial, social, political and economic boundaries for which there is no known cure. The gravity of the AIDS threat demands strong State action, thus:

The State shall promote public awareness about the causes, modes of transmission, consequences, means of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive nationwide educational and information campaign organized and conducted by the State. Such campaigns shall promote value formation and employ scientifically proven approaches, focus on the family as a basic social unit, and be carried out in all schools and training centers, workplaces, and communities. This program shall involve affected individuals and groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS.

The State shall extend to every person suspected or known to be infected with HIV/AIDS full protection of his/her human rights and civil liberties.

Article I - Education and Information.

Section 5. HIV/AIDS Information as Health Service. HIV/AIDS education and information shall form part of the delivery of health services by health practitioners, workers and personnel. The knowledge and capabilities of all public health workers shall be enhanced to include skills for proper information dissemination and education on HIV/AIDS. It shall likewise be considered a civic duty of health providers in the private sector to make available to the public such information necessary to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and to correct common misconceptions about this disease. The training of health workers shall include discussions on HIV-related ethical issues such as confidentiality, informed consent and the duty to provide treatment.