74. While having taken no action to predict what impact the policies of medical
industrialization would have on the publicity of the medical service, the Government is
simply reiterating that there will be no discrimination in the access to medical service.
The Government should come up with specific measures to ensure that ex post facto
impact assessments are conducted in an objective manner before related Government
policies are finalized. The process of collecting opinions from various social standings
is a must in the course of implementing the policy measures.
2.
Insufficient Measures for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Medical Assistance
(256-264)
75. The Government has provided various education programs that focused on
eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as the prevention of discrimination against
those infected with HIV/AIDS. However, as such efforts of education and publicity are
centralized on some “vulnerable groups,” it could give a misleading impression that
HIV/AIDS is a disease with which only some particular groups of population are
infected, and cause discrimination against the groups.
76. The AIDS Prevention Act in force expressly provides non-discrimination and
privacy, but the personal information of those infected with AIDS is not fully protected
in the procedures for reporting after anonymized medical examination and for providing
financial assistance for medical treatment and living costs.
77. The Government controls inflow of the foreigners infected with HIV/AIDS, by not
only forbidding the HIV/AIDS-infected foreigners to arrive in this country but also
deporting the foreigners who are reported to have been infected with HIV/AIDS.
However, the Government has not established any institutional system to support
medical care service for a large number of HIV/AIDS-infected foreigners staying in this
country, excluding foreign spouses of Korean nationals, recognized refugees and
naturalization applicants.
78. The Government should review the target and contents of its publicity and education
activities for prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS and resolution of discrimination
against HIV/AIDS patients, while working out the systems to protect personal
information of HIV/AIDS patients, whether national or foreign, and provide them with
medical assistance.
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