Section 31Sec./Art. 31

Mechanisms and Standards on Routine Provider-Initiated and Client-Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing. - To implement this section, the DOH shall:

(a) Accredit public private HIV testing facilities based on capacity to deliver testing services including HIV counseling: Provided, That only DOH-accredited HIV testing facilities shall be allowed to conduct HIV testing;

(b) Develop the guidelines for HIV counseling and testing, including mobile HIV counseling and testing, and routine provider-initiated HIV counseling and testing that shall ensure among others, that HIV tesing is based on informed consent, is voluntary and confidential, is available at all times and provided by the qualified persons and DOH-accredited providers;

(c) Accredit institutions or organizations that train HIV and AIDS counselors in coordination with DSWD;

(d) Accredit competent HIV and AIDS counselors for persons with disability including but not limited to, translator for the hearing-impaired and Braille for the visually-impaired clients, in coordination with the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA);

(e) Set the standards for HIV counseling and shall work closely with HIV and AIDS CSOs that train HIV and AIDS counselors and peer educators, in coordination and participation of NGOs, government organizations (GOs), and Civil Society Organizations of PLHIV (CSO-PLHIV); and

(f) Ensure access to routine provider-initiated counseling and testing as part of clinical are in all health care in all health care settings for the public.

All HIV testing facilities shall provide free pre-test and post-test HIV counseling to individuals who wish to avail of HIV testing, which shall likewise be confidential. No HIV testing shall be conducted without informed consent. The State shall ensure that specific approaches to HIV counseling and testing are adopted based on the nature and extent of HIV and AIDS incidence in the country.

Pre-test counseling and post-test counseling shall be done by the HIV and AIDS counselor, licensed social worker, licensed health service provider for free.