Maharashtra to foot HIV victim's bills

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Maharashtra to foot HIV victim's bills

The India Express 26 April 2002

MUMBAI, APRIL 25: The Maharashtra government told Bombay High Court yesterday

that it will comply with the order to provide necessary medical aid and

treatment charges to a 13-year-old Pune-based girl who contracted AIDS during

treatment at a government hospital.

Advocate-General Goolam Vahanvati said: " Arrangements have been made for the

child on a special basis and without creation any precedent. " Vahanvati added

that at the instance of the Health Minister, the Public Health Department has

ordered that the government and its allied bodies would bear the treatment

charges of the child for three years and that treatment would be carried out at

a government hospital.

The department has also undertaken to contact other trusts and socially oriented

organisations to sponsor the child's treatment and in case sponsors are not

available, the government would bear all expenses. Vahanvati assured that in

case the department found it difficult to provide the treatment, the matter

would be placed before the Chief Minister, who would consider granting the

necessary funds from the Chief Minister's Fund as a special case without

creating any precedent.

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Dr.Jagdish Harsh (jharsh@... )

Director of Administration and Operations

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA)( www.fxb.org )

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