HIV/AIDS activist groups protested against a proposal in Taiwan this week to put a person’s HIV/AIDS status on their health insurance card, arguing the added information does not ensure the safety of donated organs – following an incident in which a hospital mistakenly transplanted organs from a HIV-infected donor into five individuals, reports The Central News Agency.

Two of Taiwan’s most prestigious health care institutions – National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) and National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) – committed the error.

Since then, a proposal is being considered by several legislators to add HIV/AIDS status to the health insurance cards that almost all Taiwanese citizens and residents carry to access National Health Insurance.

But activists question the effectiveness of the move, and say it could further marginalize those suffering the disease.

As many as 25 percent of those who are HIV-positive, after informing medical personnel of their health condition, are denied medical services, said Paul Hsu, secretary-general of the Taiwan Lourdes Association, a local Catholic organization that helps people living with HIV/AIDS.

“Noting the status is of no help in preventing donor recipients from possible infection,” said Ivory Lin, secretary-general of the Persons with HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association of Taiwan.

Many potential donors are not aware of their HIV status, so even if the proposal is adopted by the government, hospitals performing the transplants still need to run on-site HIV tests to make sure the organs are actually HIV-free, she said.

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Activists staunchly oppose HIV status on health cards (Focus Taiwan News Channel/The Central News Agency)

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