REPUBLIC ACT 8504

Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998

 R A 8 5 0 4:PH ILI PPINE AI DS CONT ROL AND PR E V E NT I ON ACT OF 1 9 9 8

• “AN ACT PROMULGATING POLICIESANDD

PRESCRIBING MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
INSTITUTING A NATIONWIDE HIV/AIDS
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS,
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE HIV/AIDS
MONITORING SYSTEM, STRENGTHENING THE
PHILIPPINE NATION AIDS COUNCIL, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.”
 WHAT IS REPUBLIC ACT 8505?

• PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE EDUCATIONAL

INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
• FULL PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF EVERY
PERSON SUSPECTED OR KNOWN TO BE INFECTED WITH HIV AND AIDS
• SAFETY AND UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS IN PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES THAT
CARRY RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION
• POSITIVELY ADDRESS AND SEEK TO ERADICATE CONDITIONS THAT AGGRAVATE
THE SPREAD OF HIV INFECTION
• PARTICIPATION OF AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS IN PROPAGATING VITAL
INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL MESSAGES ABOUT HIV/AIDS.
 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AIDS COUNCIL

• SECURE RECOMMENDATIONS, ENSURE COVERAGE IN INFORMATION AND

EDUCATION, MONITORING, GUIDELINES IN MEDICAL AND OTHER PRACTICES
AND PROCEDURES, HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES, TESTING AND
COUNSELING, PROTECTION OF RIGHTS, OBSERVANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
• MONITOR THE IRR, ISSUE OR CAUSE ISSUANCE OF ORDERS, OR RECOMMEND
• DEVELOP AMD MONITOR COMPREHENSIVE, LONG TERM-TERM PROGRAM
• COORDINATE AND STRENGTHEN WORKING RELATIONSHIPS OF GOVERNMENT
AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
• COORDINATE AND COOPERATE WITH FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
• EVALUATE EDEQUACY AND RECOMMEND ON UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES
 WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?

HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION)

AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME)
IS A DISEASE SPECTRUM OF THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM CAUSED
BY THE INFECTION WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV).

THIS IS A DESEASE THAT IS RECOGNIZES NO TERRITORIAL, SOCIAL,

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BOUNDARIES FOR WHICH THERE IS NO
KNOWN CURE
 STAGES OF HIV INFECTION

STAGE 1: ACUTE HIV INFECTION. WITHIN 2 TO 4 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION WITH

HIV, PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE A FLU-LIKE ILLNESS, WHICH MAY LAST FOR A FEW
WEEKS.
STAGE 2: CLINICAL LATENCY (HIV INACTIVITY OR DORMNANCY). THIS PERIOD
IS SOMETIMES CALLED ASYMPTOMATIC HIV INFECTION OR CHRONIC HIV
INFECTION. DURING THIS PHASE, HIV IS STILL ACTIVE BUT REPRODUCES
AT VERY LOW LEVELS. PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OR GET
SICK DURING THIS TIME.
STAGE 3: ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS). AIDS IS THE MOST
SEVERE PHASE OF HIV INFECTION. PEOPLE WITH AIDS HAVE SUCH BADLY DAMAGE
IMMUNE SYSTEMS THAT THEY GET AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SEVERE ILLNESSES,
CALLED OPPORTUNISTIC ILLNESSES
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 1: THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROMOTE EDUCATION AND

INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS
• SCHOOLS AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS MUST INCLUDE HIV
EDUCATION.
• THE DOH MUST CONDUCT PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS.
• THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR FILIPINOS GOING
ABROAD.
• LGUs MUST DEVELOP A LOCAL HIV PREVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS
• IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO GIVE FALSE OR INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING
INFORMATION ON HIV/AIDS
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 2: THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEVELOP AND PROMOTE SAFE

MEDICAL PRACTICES
• ALL BLOOD, ORGANS, AND TISSUE FOR DONATION WILL BE TESTED.
IF IT TESTS POSITIVE, IT WILL BE DISPOSED SAFELY AND NOT USED.
• THE DOH WILL PROVIDE GUIDELINES ON SAFE SURGERY AND
MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
• WILLFULLY OR NEGLIGENTLY DANGEROUS PRACTICES WILL BE
AGAINST THE LAW.
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 3: THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE APPROPRIATE

CONFIDENTIAL HIV TESTING.
• HIV TESTING CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH CONSENT OF THE PERSON
TESTED.
• THE DOH WILL PROVIDE ANONYMOUS HIV TESTING.
• COUNSELING WILL BE CONDUCTED BEFORE AND AFTER TESTING.
• THE DOH WILL MAKE ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HIV TESTING
AVAILABLE IN ALL OF THE PHILIPPINES.
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 4: THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSUREN ADEQUATE HEALTH

AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV.
• HOSPITALS WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE CARE FOR PERSONS WITH HIV.
• LGUs MUST PROVIDE COMMINTY-BASED PREVENTION AND CARE
EFFORTS.
• LIVEHOOD EFFORTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV.
• THE DOH IS TO DO STD PREVENTION AND CONTROL EFFORTS.
• THE DOH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT HEALTH INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE
TO PEOPLE WITH HIV.
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 5: THE GOVERNMENT WILL MONITOR HIV/AIDS.

• THE GOVERNMENT WILL ESTABLISH AN AIDSWATCH COUNCIL.
• REPORTING PROCEDURES WILL BE DEVELOPED TO TRACK HIV
RATES, WHILE RESPECTING CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY.
• CONTRACT TRACING IS PERMITTED PROVIDED CONFIDENTIALITY
IS NOT BREACHED.
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 6: CONFIDENTIALITY WILL BE PROTECTED ON HIV STATUS

• ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND ANYONE HANDLING HEALTH
RECORDS WILL STRICTLY PRESERVE PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY ON
HIV STATUS, AND THE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE WITH HIV.
• HIV RESULTS MAY BE GIVEN TO THE PERSON TESTED, AN OFFICIAL
OF THE AIDSWATCH COUNCIL, AND A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. IT
CANNOT BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.
• LEGAL PENALTIES CAN BE PROVIDED FOR BREACHING
CONFIDENTIALITY
• PEOPLE WITH HIV MUST INFORM SPOUSES AND SEX PARTNERS AS
SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.
 REPUBLIC ACT. 8504

ARTICLE 7: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH HIV IS ILLEGAL

• EMPLOYERS CANNOT DISCRIMINATE IN HIRING, FIRING, PROMOTION, OR
ASSIGNMENT BASED ON ACTUAL OR SUSPECTED HIV STATUS.
• SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFUSE ADMISSION, PUNISH STUDENTS, OR
DENY PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES BASED ON REAL OR PERCEIVED HIV
STATUS.
• A PERSON WITH HIV HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO TRAVEL, LIVE, AND LODGE WITH
THE SAME FREEDOM AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN. QUARANTINES AND OTHER
RESTRICTIONS ARE ILLEGAL.
• A PERSON WITH HIV HAS EVERY LEGAL RIGHT TO SEEK PUBLIC OFFICE.
• CREDIT SERVICES CANNOT BE DENIED BASED ON HIV STATUS.
INSSURANCE CANNOT BE REFUSED BASED ON HIV STATUS,
PROVIDED THE PERSON DOES NOT LIE ABOUT THEIR HIV STATUS.
• HOSPITALS HEALTH SERVICES CANNOT REFUSE TREATMENT OR
DISCRIMINATE BASED ON HIV STATUS.
• DECENT BURIALS CANNOT BE DENIED BASED ON HIV STATUS.
• LEGAL PENALTIES FOR DISCRIMINATION WILL BE ENFORCED.
REPUBLIC ACT 7719
National Blood Services Act of 1994
REPUBLIC ACT
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8750