Medical centers will be required to offer HIV testing not only to pregnant women but also to their partners. Furthermore, the resolution establishes that a doctor's order is no longer mandatory for HIV tests. Individuals can request an HIV test at any public hospital or health center without necessarily having a doctor's order. This is established by Resolution No. 55 E/2017 of the National Ministry of Health. While there was no official regulation requiring a doctor's order, it was often requested in practice. Now, the regulation provides a framework to eliminate this obstacle. The regulation also stipulates that doctors are obligated to offer HIV testing with information to the pregnant woman's partner, as well as to victims of sexual abuse or those with certain illnesses that may be associated with the human immunodeficiency virus. It is worth noting that, in the case of pregnant women, testing has been mandatory since 2002, under Law No. 25,543.

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“We find this law very important and it’s something to celebrate because it reduces the prevalence of perinatal HIV transmission, which in our country, despite our access to healthcare, is high: 5.2% of mothers are HIV-positive. If a pregnant woman continues to have sexual relations with a partner who has the virus, she can contract it during the perinatal period and transmit it to her child during childbirth or breastfeeding,” she explained. PresentsMatías Muñoz, coordinator of the Argentine Network of Positive Youth and Adolescents (RAJAP), added: “It is very important to closely monitor how the regulation will be applied in the health system.”

Through activism and militancy

The Ministry of Health clarified that the distribution of the drug Nevirapine had normalized this week, but RAJAP is demanding that the distribution of condoms and informational brochures also be normalized. “We don't want this good news to overshadow our demands, which are also fundamental,” said Muñoz. She added that both resolutions are related to the social mobilization of the last few months.

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On December 1st, World AIDS Day, the Front for the Health of People Living with HIV was formed, bringing together individuals from various social organizations. From this platform, a national emergency was declared due to the State's absence of public policies for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. A consensus was also reached to resume street protests. Since then, several public assemblies have been held to coordinate demands for meetings with Ministry of Health officials.

The second Assembly of the Front was held on January 6, 2017. 

The importance of early diagnosis

The new regulation stipulates that the test must be offered to individuals who, during a medical consultation, present with the pathologies or "circumstances" detailed in an attached list, which includes: pneumonia, tuberculosis, STIs, psoriasis, extensive seborrheic dermatitis, herpes zoster, lymphoma, malignant tumors of the cervix or anus, and recurrent infections, among others. The resolution aims to "facilitate access to HIV and other STI diagnosis," as stated in its rationale. In Argentina, 30% of the 120,000 people living with HIV are unaware of their status.

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Mar Lucas, Director of Programs at the Huésped Foundation, emphasized that early diagnosis is crucial because it allows for a better response to HIV treatment and increases patient survival. Furthermore, if antiretroviral treatment achieves its goal of reducing the viral load to undetectable levels, it decreases virus transmission. The guidelines recommend that healthcare professionals "provide information and offer HIV testing to all individuals who come into contact with the healthcare system, regardless of the reason for their visit." Follow Presentes: Twitter @PresentesTLGBI Instagram: PresentesTLGBI Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/presentesTLGBI/  ]]>