In this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Law: Law on the Prevention of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the Rights and Obligations of Infected Persons.

• Ministry: Ministry of Health.

• Minister: Minister of Health.

• HIV: The human immunodeficiency virus which leads to AIDS.

• AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

• Health Entities: Any private or public entity that provides health care.

• Health Care: Medical services and procedures, whether preventive or remedial, which are provided for prevention, care, and primary treatment of AIDS symptoms.

• Medical Care: Preventive, remedial, and rehabilitative services relating to the health of the individual and society.

• NAP: The Ministry’s National AIDS Program.

• Verification: Confirming the result using reference laboratories.

• Infected Person: A person infected with HIV or showing AIDS symptoms.

• Suspect: A person suspected of having HIV or AIDS.

• Person in Close Contact: A person whose chances of contracting the disease are increased due to close contact with an infected person.

• Person in Contact: A person whose chances of contracting the disease are increased due to service or work-related contact.

• Isolation: Preventing the infected person from coming into contact with others to limit the risk of transmission.

• Reporting: Notifying the Ministry of HIV or AIDS cases.

• Regulations: Implementing Regulations of this Law.

Without prejudice to preventive measures and precautions provided for in relevant laws, this Law aims to:

• 1. classify AIDS as an infectious disease and apply the preventive measures and procedures provided for in this Law and its Regulations;

• 2. protect the rights of infected persons and persons in close contact and determine their obligations;

• 3. provide necessary care and rehabilitation to infected persons; and

• 4. protect the rights of infected persons to education and employment.

Health entities shall provide health care, counseling, and psychological support to infected persons; respect their rights; combat AIDS; raise awareness on means of its transmission, methods of prevention, and treatment; and protect the community against it.

Health entities may not deny medical care to an infected person due to his infection.

1. NAP shall, in coordination with other health entities, implement prevention, care, and rehabilitation measures, designate reference laboratories for diagnosis and verification of infection with HIV, provide treatment to infected persons, and raise awareness on means of prevention.

2. Health entities shall send suspected samples to reference laboratories designated by NAP to verify HIV infection. In all cases, confidentiality shall be observed in reporting infected cases to relevant departments at the Ministry. The Regulations shall designate the departments responsible for receiving such reports.

Health care shall be provided to an infected pregnant woman and her fetus. She may not be forced to have an abortion or be deprived from the custody of her child due to her infection.

Health, education, and media entities shall take measures necessary to promote community awareness on AIDS and the rights of infected persons. The Regulations shall specify necessary procedures.

An infected person may not, due to infection, be deprived of his rights under the law, prevented from pursuing his education, nor dismissed from work, unless it is established that he intentionally transmitted HIV to others.

Without prejudice to Article 13 of this Law, testing against AIDS shall not be required except in the following cases:

• 1. Applicants to civil or military health colleges and institutes.

• 2. Applicants for positions designated as health positions.

• 3. Applicants for military positions.

• 4. Pre-marriage tests.

• 5. Pregnancy.

• 6. Any other case the Minister decides to include in coordination with the Saudi Health Council.

Society members have the right to be protected against HIV infection. As such, health, educational, social, and media entities shall take measures necessary to protect against the disease, raise awareness on various aspects thereof, and highlight religious and moral values and the importance of compliance therewith to reinforce the safety and protection of individuals, families, and society against AIDS.