Past regulations of forcibly deporting foreign nationals who have contracted HIV could be subject to change, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The agency said it plans to cancel the enforced deportation and the regulation stipulating that all foreign nationals in Taiwan wishing to stay for more than three months have to be tested for HIV.
CDC Deputy Director Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊仁祥) said as of last month, the total number of HIV-positive individuals in the nation is 26,827, including 873 foreigners.
Chuang said that in a recent meeting with an HIV/AIDS expert, a consensus was reached to cease the practice of enforced deportation of foreigners that had contracted HIV.
The meeting also reached a consensus to slash Article 18 and 19 of the HIV Infection Control and Patient Rights Protection Act (人類免疫缺乏病毒傳染防治及感染者權益保障條例).
Article 18 of the Act currently stipulates that HIV antibody tests may be asked of foreign nationals who have entered or have resided in Taiwan for more than three months.
The article says if test results are positive, visas, permits or residencies would be revoked, followed by immediate deportation.
It states that foreign nationals forced to leave Taiwan by Article 18 may apply, once per quarter, for a short-term visa lasting no longer than 14 days.
There are rare exceptions to this policy: Article 20 states that foreign nationals who were infected by spouses who are Taiwanese nationals, or who were infected while receiving medical care in Taiwan, and who have relatives within two degrees of kinship who have household registration and current residency in Taiwan may ask those relatives to prepare a written petition — only once — within six months of their deportation.
In terms of medical care, Chuang said the rate at which HIV/AIDS cases increases outpaces public funds set aside to treat patients, adding that the government’s National Health Insurance incurred NT$600 million (US$2 million) in debt treating HIV/AIDS patients.
Chuang said that while HIV-positive foreign nationals would need to pay in full for their medications, HIV-positive Taiwanese nationals would see a reduction in medical coverage, whereas currently they receive full coverage.
Chuang said that the plan is still in the works and the Ministry of Health and Welfare should be consulted for further information on the planned amendments.
Commenting on the CDC’s planned changes, Persons with HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association of Taiwan social worker Yeh Chia-yu (葉珈語) said that Taiwan is one of only 40 countries that still choose to deport HIV-positive individuals.
While saying that it supports the CDC’s plans to change the policy, the association also expressed concern that the removal of Articles 8 and 19 from the Act might have consequences for disease prevention.
The association suggested that the CDC keep the clause that foreign nationals need to provide HIV test results upon entry, but the results need not be given to customs.
In other words, the association is suggesting that customs, the National Immigration Agency, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should not use HIV test results as a reason to restrict the coming and going of foreigners.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS