Organize the implementation of harm reduction interventions in HIV infection prevention

The Government has just issued Decree No. 141/2024/ND-CP detailing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV/AIDS).

The Government has just issued Decree No. 141/2024/ND-CP detailing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV/AIDS).

This Decree details Clause 2, Article 23, Clause 3, Article 28, Clause 4, Article 39 and Clause 5, Article 41 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV/AIDS); Clauses 6, 7 and 9, Article 1 of the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (hereinafter referred to as the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control) on:

Harm reduction interventions in HIV infection prevention, except for measures prescribed in Decree No. 63/2021/ND-CP of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection;

Treatment of opioid addiction with substitution drugs; HIV counseling and testing; Integrating HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities with socio-economic development programs; List of occupations requiring HIV testing before recruitment; Management, distribution, and use of anti-HIV drugs and substitution drugs.

Organize the implementation of harm reduction interventions in HIV infection prevention

The Decree clearly states that the provision and guidance on condom use for subjects specified in Clause 2, Article 11 of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control shall be carried out in one of the following forms:

a) Provide condoms free of charge through programs and projects approved by competent state agencies in accordance with the provisions of law. Condoms provided free of charge must have the words "Provided free of charge, not for sale" clearly printed on the packaging or on a secondary label;

b) Commercial sale of condoms in accordance with the provisions of law on medical equipment management.

Agencies, organizations and units in charge of providing and instructing on condom use as prescribed in Point a above are responsible for: Developing a network of free condom supply points, installing automatic condom vending machines, arranging condom retail points at entertainment venues, wharves, bus stations, train stations, hotels, motels, inns, restaurants and other accommodation service establishments; Organizing free condom supply activities.

The provision and guidance on condom use in harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV infection are carried out according to professional guidance from the Ministry of Health.

People's Committees at all levels are responsible for directing specialized agencies in the military area to perform the following tasks:

Preside over and coordinate with the agencies: Police; Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies to organize and implement activities to provide and guide the use of condoms in harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV infection;

Manage agencies, organizations and individuals participating in the implementation of activities to provide and guide condom use in harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV infection;

Monitor, track, evaluate, summarize and report on the results of condom provision and guidance activities in harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV transmission.

Provide and instruct on the use of clean syringes and needles

According to the Decree, providing and instructing drug addicts on the use of clean syringes and needles is carried out in one of the following forms:

(1) Provide clean syringes and needles free of charge through programs and projects approved by competent state agencies in accordance with the provisions of law. Clean syringes and needles provided free of charge must be clearly printed on the packaging or labeled with the words "Provided free of charge, not for sale";

(2) Commercial sale of clean syringes and needles in accordance with the provisions of law on medical equipment management.

The provision and guidance on the use of clean needles and syringes in harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV infection are carried out according to professional guidance from the Ministry of Health.

Psychotherapy for drug users

The Decree also provides specific provisions on psychological therapy for drug users.

Conditions for implementation: Personnel performing psychological therapy for drug users must have a certificate of completion of training in psychological therapy for drug users issued by a training facility; have a location that ensures privacy; have tables, chairs and professional documents to perform psychological therapy.

Individual and group intervention techniques in psychotherapy for drug users are carried out according to professional guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

Clause 2, Article 11 of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control stipulates:
Prioritize access to information, education and communication on HIV/AIDS prevention and control for the following subjects:
a) People infected with HIV;
b) Drug users;
c) Prostitutes;
d) People who have homosexual relations;
d) Transgender people;
e) Spouses and other family members living with HIV-infected people; spouses of subjects specified in points b, c, d and dd of this clause;
g) People who have sex with people infected with HIV;
h) People with sexually transmitted diseases;
i) Migrants;
k) Pregnant women;
l) Prisoners, detainees, inmates of compulsory education facilities, students of reform schools, and students of drug rehabilitation facilities;
m) Ethnic minorities; people living in mountainous areas, remote areas, islands, border areas, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions;
n) Persons from 13 years old to under 30 years old.”.