Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought reply from provincial government about the constitution of a commission for prevention, control and treatment of HIV AIDS in the province. The court sought the reply in a petition of 10 persons and associations, seeking the court order for implementation of Sindh HIV and AIDS Control Treatment and Protection Act, 2013.
Under Section 3 of this Act, it is the responsibility of the Sindh government to implement and enforce this Act with certain powers given under the same section, whereas under Section 4 it is further provided that the Government shall within fifteen days from the promulgation of the Act, by notification, establish a Commission for prevention, control, care, support and treatment of HIV and AIDS in the Province of Sindh, petitioners submitted.
Sindh Government, Secretary Health, Sindh Health Care Commission, Home Secretary Sindh, Inspector General Police Sindh and others have been made respondents in the petition.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that despite promulgation of the Law in 2013 no Commission has been made so far to effectually implement the Act. According to court's order, bench directed Additional Advocate General Sindh to submit the comments and also intimate the court as to when the commission will be constituted.
The court also directed AAG to submit the data with regard to HIV and AIDS patients in Sindh that can be collected from Health Department. The court also directed AAG to ensure appearance of Additional Health Secretary and responsible officer of Sindh Health Care Commission in the next hearing of the case.
Director General Bureau of Statistics, Planning and Development Sindh submitted comments in compliance with the court orders whereas Health Care Commission stated that the entire data of the HIV patients is available with the Health Department and Health Care Commission has nothing to do with the data.