The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued directives to all private hospitals and laboratories across Punjab to report HIV cases within 24 hours to strengthen their management.
The directive mandates that private treatment facilities not only report confirmed HIV cases but also provide details of suspected cases within the same timeframe. Patient information will be forwarded to the designated HIV/AIDS Treatment Centres, according to a letter issued by the PHC.
To ensure patient confidentiality, the PHC has emphasised that personal data will only be accessible to authorised officers, and stringent measures are in place to safeguard privacy.
Non-compliance with these orders will result in strict action, including fines and the potential sealing of the healthcare facility. The PHC aims to streamline HIV case tracking and treatment through this policy while maintaining the trust of patients.
