Article 3 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law

This article sets out the duties of health bodies, which under Article 1 are any public or private body that provides health care. The duties fall into two parts:

First: toward infected persons

• Providing health care, meaning the preventive and therapeutic medical services and procedures for prevention, care and initial treatment of AIDS symptoms.
• Providing counseling.
• Providing psychological support.
• Respecting their rights.

Second: toward society

• Combating AIDS.
• Explaining its means of transmission and the ways of preventing and treating it, and raising awareness of them.
• Urging people to avoid it.
• Protecting members of society from it.

The practical effect: an infected person who goes to a hospital or health center, public or private, has the right to receive health care, counseling and psychological support, and to have his rights respected. The article is not limited to the treatment side but also cares for the psychological side.

This article applies the Law's objectives in Article 2, including preserving the rights of infected persons and ensuring their care and rehabilitation. Article 4 then confirms that no health body may refuse to provide the necessary medical care to an infected person because of the infection.

Anyone who believes a health body has fallen short of these duties toward them may consult a lawyer specializing in health regulations.