Chandigarh, October 12 — The Haryana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, has approved the formulation of state-specific rules under Section 49(1) of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
The new regulations will be known as the Haryana Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Rules, 2025.
Under these rules, the state government will designate the Commissioners of its six administrative divisions—Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ambala—as Ombudsmen. As outlined in Section 23 of the Act, their primary role will be to address grievances of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Each Ombudsman will operate within their respective divisions, supported by the Civil Surgeon of the concerned district.
The government will also strengthen diagnostic facilities and ensure proper management of opportunistic infections that weaken immunity. Free diagnostic services will be provided at all government health institutions, including sub-health centers, primary health centers, community health centers, civil hospitals, district hospitals, and medical college hospitals.
Additionally, in line with the guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) medicines will be made available at ART centers, Facility-Integrated ART (FIART) centers, and Link ART (LART) centers for all HIV-positive individuals.
The private healthcare sector will also be actively involved in providing diagnostic and treatment services to HIV-positive individuals to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory care. Private practitioners will be directed to report all HIV-positive cases to the nearest Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) or government hospital for further management, while strictly upholding patients’ human rights and privacy.
Furthermore, the State AIDS Control Society will be instructed to ensure proper arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment of infections at all government health facilities in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The rules also define the functions and responsibilities of the Ombudsmen, focusing on safeguarding the rights and interests of children affected by HIV, individuals living with HIV, and those suffering from AIDS.
