ROMANIA. Order No. 1201 of 16 October 1990 of the Ministry of Health on epidemiological surveillance, prevention of infection, and the provision of medical care to persons infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (International Digest of Health Legislation, Vol. 42, No. 3, 1991, pp. 441-2.)

This Order, which has been made by the Minister of Health, repeals Orders No. 200 of 1987 and No. 162 of 29 March 1989, and all other contrary provisions. Secs. 1-12 read as follows:

"1. It shall be the duty of all health units to provide medical care to HIV-infected persons (asymptomatic or symptomatic), irrespective of the place of residence of the persons concerned.

2. HIV-infected persons shall be admitted to health units equipped with beds for adults and children, in keeping with the specific character of the opportunistic conditions involved.

3. Hospital units in which AIDS is diagnosed shall be required to fill in the coded card for the notification of new cases of the disease. The criteria applicable to the diagnosis of AIDS, and the conditions for disseminating information, shall be determined by the Commission of AIDS Specialists attached to the Ministry of Health.

4. From the date of this Order, all centres involved in the collection and preservation of blood must subject donated blood to tests for the detection of infection by HIV and hepatitis B, in order to prevent the risk of transmitting these diseases through transfusions, or through treatments using blood products.

5. Organ transplantation and sperm donation shall not be authorized unless the donors have previously undergone screening tests.

6. Laboratories in which the serological diagnosis of HIV infection is performed shall be required to communicate their results periodically. The criteria applicable to serological diagnosis, and the conditions for disseminating information, shall be determined by the Commission of AIDS Specialists attached to the Ministry of Health.

7. A Reference Laboratory shall be designated, within the framework of the Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, for the purposes of confirming laboratory diagnoses of HIV and hepatitis B infection. It shall be the duty of this Reference Laboratory to coordinate activities carried out in the network of transfusion centres, and by blood collection and preservation centres.

8. A Reference Laboratory shall be designated, within the framework of the I. Cantacuzino Institute, for the purposes of confirming laboratory diagnoses of HIV and hepatitis B infection. It shall be the duty of this Reference Laboratory to coordinate activities carried out by all other laboratories working in this field.

9. All health units shall be required to take measures to prevent the transmission of HIV infection, and to protect staff.

10. The necessary measures shall be taken in all health units to ensure strict observance of professional confidentiality, and confidentiality in respect of each diagnosis, which shall be communicated only to the patient, or, if the patient is a child, his parents or legal representatives.

11. The Commission of AIDS Specialists attached to the Ministry of Health shall draw up, within 15 days of the signing of this Order, instructions and methodological standards, which shall be submitted for the approval of the Ministry of Health, and communicated to all health units for the purposes of implementation.

12. Any violation of this Order shall be punished in accordance with the health legislation in force."