Article 1 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law

This is the definitions article of the Law on Prevention of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the Rights and Duties of Persons Living with It, and understanding it is the basis for understanding the rest of the articles. The most prominent definitions are:

• The Ministry and the Minister: the Ministry of Health and the Minister of Health.
• The virus: the agent that causes the disease, and AIDS: the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
• Health bodies: any public or private body that provides health care, so the Law covers hospitals and private centers, not only government ones.
• Health care: the preventive and therapeutic medical services and procedures provided for prevention, care and initial treatment of AIDS symptoms, whereas medical care is broader and includes the preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative services concerned with the health of the individual and society.
• The National Program: the National AIDS Control Program in the Ministry, and confirmation: confirming the result through the reference laboratories.
• The infected person: the carrier of the virus or anyone in whom its symptoms have appeared, so symptoms need not have appeared.
• The suspected person: anyone whose indications of infection are more likely than not.
• The close contact: anyone in contact with the infected person in a way of living together in which the possibility of transmission of the disease is likely.
• The dealing person: anyone in service or work contact with the infected person in a way in which the possibility of transmission of the disease may arise.
• Isolation: preventing the infected person from mixing with others to protect the person or to protect others.
• Reporting: informing the Ministry of the infection.
• The Regulations: the Implementing Regulations of the Law.

The difference between the close contact and the dealing person is important: the close contact's relationship is one of living together in which the likelihood of transmission is high, while the dealing person's relationship is a service or professional one in which this possibility may arise. The definitions apply unless the context requires otherwise.