Surgeons, dentists, midwives and other healthcare workers in England, Wales and Scotland having HIV treatment will now be able to carry out all medical tasks as the Government announces the end of the 20-year ban.
The ban was originally imposed because of fears of infection.
The Government, which said it would not put patient safety at risk, wants to change the rules in line with modern science.
England's chief medical officer Sally Davies said it's time the sector changed these "outdated rules".
"At the moment we bar totally safe healthcare workers who are on treatment with HIV from performing many surgical treatments, and that includes dentists," she said.
She said modern anti-retroviral drugs enabled people with HIV to lead normal lives, adding: "With effective treatment, they are not infectious." She claimed the risk to patients is "absolutely negligible".
Long overdue
The ban is due to be lifted next April. The Department of Health has said clinicians will be strictly monitored and their treatment tested to safeguard patients.
Unison said lifting the ban on NHS workers with HIV is "long overdue".
"The announcement is good news for patients as well as staff. Good for patients in that the NHS will not be wasting the skills and expertise of highly trained staff, good for staff as they will now be free to practice and use their hard earned skills and expertise," said Unison deputy head of health, Sara Gorton.
In addition to the new rules for healthcare workers, people will be able to buy self-testing kits for HIV to encourage earlier detection. The kits must comply with EU regulations.
