Entry and residence regulations for PWHAs in India

[Guest guest]

What kind of entry and residence regulations for people living with HIV and

AIDS do exist in India?

Dear colleagues,

I work with colleagues on a global survey of legal rules and laws concerning

the entry and permanent residence regulations for people living with HIV and

AIDS.

There are severe contradictions concerning the information we have for

India, where you might help us to clearify the situation. We provide these

informations to all people living with HIV/AIDS.

There are all sorts of regulations in more than 100 countries world wide.

For people with HIV/AIDS who want or have to spend extended periods abroad for

personal or professional reasons, this results in a high degree of

insecurity. I am sure you understand our request. I would be happy if you could

help us on this.

The Indian embassy (Berlin, 3. February 2000) wrote:

Entry regulations: " No HIV testing for short-term tourist stays (up to one

year). People with HIV whose status is known are not granted visas " (Indian

embassy)

Residence regulations: " HIV testing required for anyone wishing to remain

longer than 1 year in India "

This also applies to registered foreign students. HIV-positive people and

those refusing the test are deported (according to information from AIDS Info

Docu Switzerland, 15. March 2000)

In October 2001 there was a cross posting from Kaiser network and

sea-aids-forum, it said: India to Bar Foreigners With HIV From Entering Country:

" Indian officials will begin barring individuals with HIV from entering the

country within the next few months, according to Health and Family Welfare

Minister C.P. Thakur, the South China Morning Post reports.

Upon entering India, visitors will have to produce medical records

stating that they are not infected with the virus. If they are

HIV-positive, they will not be allowed to travel in the country, Thakur said,

citing as the basis for the new policy a recent report that found that " contacts

with foreigners are responsible for the sharp rise in HIV cases " in India " .

On December 5, 2002, we received a totally different message. It said that

there is no mandatory HIV testing at all:

" Foreigners, including students, in India do not have to undergo the

mandatory HIV testing, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. In a written

reply, Health and Family Welfare Minister Shatrughan Sinha said: " Experts were

of the opinion that mandatory HIV testing of foreigners/foreign students is

contrary to recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). " (Source:

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IE320021127085600 & Page=3 & Title=F

)

It would be very nice if this message would be true! We don`t know which

source is reliable. Our contact to different embassies was not successful, yet.

Please come back to me if you know more about all this. Thank you for your

help and your kind understanding!

Yours very sincerely

Wiessner

PETER-WIESSNER@...