A bill that would put a stop to automatic deportation of foreign nationals with AIDS has passed an initial review by the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee.
Under current laws, foreign nationals found to have AIDS are expelled from Taiwan unless they can prove that they were infected by a Taiwanese spouse or during the course of medical treatment in Taiwan. After deportation, nationals of countries that have a visa waiver agreement with Taiwan may only return for a period of 30 to 90 days at a time. Any applications for a residency visa will be automatically rejected.
Taiwan is one of 28 countries with similar restrictions on foreigners with AIDS. However, the restrictions have separated families, and UNAIDS, the UN organization in charge of HIV/AIDS related issues, says that travel and residency restrictions on those with AIDS are ultimately ineffective at preventing the spread of the disease.
Speaking at the legislature on Thursday, Deputy Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien, explained what the new bill will mean for foreign nationals with AIDS if it passes the legislature.
"Foreign nationals will not need to do an AIDS test if they enter the country. [Their AIDS status] will not impact their residency here either," said Lin.
"139 countries around the world do not discriminate against people with AIDS. There are now only 28 countries that have these kinds of regulations. We hope that this revision will remove these discriminatory regulations," he said.
However, while foreign nationals with AIDS would be allowed to remain in Taiwan if the bill passes, they will not receive any government support, and will need to cover the costs of treatment themselves.
The bill also allows for AIDS testing without consent in cases where there is a perceived danger of infection for medical staff or police and firefighters. This would allow medical staff to conduct AIDS tests on the unconscious and those unable to give consent, as well as infants whose parents cannot be traced.