Protect Human Rights at Work, Prevent HIV
Abstract no. MOPDE0105
Research Based Advocacy for Removing
the Exclusion of HIV from Private Insurance
Policies in Sri Lanka
Indira Hettiarachchi, ILO Sri Lanka
Richard Howard, ILO Regional Office Bangkok
LeeNah Hsu, ILO/AIDS, Geneva
Chandra Schaffter, Janashakthi Insurance Plc.
Kularatne NG, Lanka International Management Advisory Services
www.aids2014.org
Background
Sri Lanka
- Population nearly 20 million
- Low HIV prevalence (<0.1%)
- Estimated number of PLHIV is 4000
- Good social protection services
ILO research (2011) ‘Public, Private, National and Local
Schemes of HIV sensitive Social Protection Mechanisms
contributing to reducing HIV and TB Vulnerabilities’
www.aids2014.org
Research Findings and
Recommendations
Findings
•
•
•
National social security mechanisms are indifferent to
HIV
National AIDS Programme provide free HIV testing,
counselling and ART
19 out of 20 insurance companies exclude HIV in health
and life policies
Key recommendations
-
www.aids2014.org
Provide employment services for PLHIV
Advocate for removal of HIV exclusion clauses
Advocacy for employers
Follow up action
•
•
•
•
•
•
www.aids2014.org
Mobilised resources from ILO/Japan Social Safety
Net Fund
Assessed reasons for exclusion of HIV from health
insurance policies
Obtained support of the insurance regulatory authority
Assessed the financial risk of including HIV
Conducted a strategic advocacy meeting with Chief
Executives of Insurance Companies
Emphasised the social responsibility of insurance
companies
Strategic Advocacy Meeting
Areas discussed
•
Basics of HIV & AIDS
•
Prevalence of HIV in Sri Lanka
•
Overview of ILO Recommendations on social protection
and AIDS
•
Efficacy of treatment
•
Cost of HIV treatment in Sri Lanka
•
Negligible risk of removing the clause excluding HIV
•
Benefits of HIV inclusion in health insurance schemes
www.aids2014.org
Results
•
Insurance leaders became more sensitive to
issues of PLHIV
•
Became aware of “Getting to Zero” and their social
responsibility
•
Four Insurance companies removed HIV exclusion
clause
•
Special Life Insurance Policy tailor made for PLHIV
developed
www.aids2014.org
Lessons Learnt and Next Steps
•
•
•
•
•
www.aids2014.org
Lessons learnt
Advocacy based on sound economic rationale was
effective
Government's policy of free VCT and ART aided the
decision to remove HIV exclusion clauses
Advocating a rights based approach and engaging
PLHIV was effective
Next Steps
Promote a collective decision to remove HIV exclusion
clauses
Convince the public sector insurance companies to
support
Acknowledgments
The International Labour Organization
National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS)
ILO/Japan Social Safety Net Funds
Lanka International Management Advisory Services
Insurance Board of Sri Lanka
Janashakthi Insurance PLC
www.aids2014.org