'AIDS Free Certificate' Mandatory for foreigners

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PTI [ SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2002 1:06:24 AM ]

PATNA: The Centre is considering a proposal to make it compulsory for

foreigners to present 'AIDS free' certificate before they are allowed into

the country, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister C P Thakur said on

Saturday.

The measure had become necessary to check the rise of HIV cases following

contacts with foreigners visiting the country, he said quoting reports.

High-level meetings of the Union health and tourism ministries and ministry

of external affairs have already been held to give final touches to the

proposal and necessary details are being worked out so that the tourism

industry is not affected, he said.

He said many countries in the world have taken similar steps to contain the

growth of AIDS. North Korea has made it compulsory for its citizens to

undergo Aids check-up before leaving the country and after arrival from

abroad. He stressed the need for mobilising additional funds for the health

sector and said several schemes were being planned by the Union health

ministry to attract NRIs.

He had also held many rounds of talks with top industrial houses and

requested them to spend time in the improvement of healthcare in the

country, particularly in the rural areas, the minister added.

A low cost health insurance scheme would be introduced soon for the poor in

which people would be asked to contribute a small amount to get benefit of

the scheme, Thakur said.

He said a committee has been formed in the Union health ministry to keep a

tab on the spread of plague in the country, particularly in Himachal

Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. On providing medical assistance to

Afghanistan, he said the ministry had sent doctors, large quantities of

medicine and health equipment.

Forwarded by Chandrashekhar Vyas

FXB Madhya Pradesh

fxbmadhyapradesh@...

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