Make HIV tests free
AIDS has to be fought on all fronts
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061104/edit.htm#2

Cutting the HIV/AIDS test price to half from Rs 500 is a tiny but
welcome step towards combating the growing menace. Ideally, the
National AIDS Control Organisation should make the treatment free for
all patients. Currently, only HIV-infected children and HIV positive
parents living below the poverty line are exempted from paying for
the tests. Free HIV tests and treatment will encourage more people to
come forward for treatment. This requires large funds. Health is low
on priority in many states. Only a fraction of the state health
budgets is earmarked for combating AIDS.

While ignorance, lack of access to hospitals and high cost may keep
poor victims from seeking treatment, it is the social stigma that
forces patients from the middle and upper classes from going in for
medical and psychological help. Hospitals themselves, particularly
dispensaries in the rural areas, are ill-equipped to handle HIV
cases. Besides, insensitivity of the health staff discourages victims
from approaching hospitals. That may explain the small number of
HIV/AIDS cases reported in Himachal Pradesh (252), Punjab (292) and
Haryana (486) compared to 1,260 cases in Chandigarh. This region
attracts a large number of migrants and many of them come to
Chandigarh for treatment as the UT has excellent medicare facilities.

Despite efforts to spread awareness about AIDS through theatre, films
and the media, misconceptions about the disease persist. A recent
survey conducted by the commandant of a military hospital in Punjab
and a Pune-based professor has indicated glaring lack of
understanding even among officers about the threat of disease in the
armed forces. Small wonder, the menace is spreading fast and even the
armed forces are not prepared to deal with it. According to the
latest WHO report, 1,11608 more Indians got infected by the HIV in
2005 with Tamil Nadu reporting the maximum number (52,036) followed
by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.