Real-name dispute on HIV
A senior health official of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advocated the use of real-name HIV testing on February 8, stating that the tests will be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The official made his comments as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region recently released a draft regulation asking for the public's opinion on the matter. The draft states that HIV tests should be carried out on a real-name basis, with those who test positive obliged to inform their spouses or sex partners.
In China where AIDS is still related to shame and despair by some, the words of the official result in drastic dispute in society.
◆NGOs oppose HIV testing policy
The controversy surrounding the government's promotion of real-name HIV testing in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Hunan Province reached a new high when two influential non-governmental organizations sent letters to related government bodies calling for an end to the draft regulation, which some experts believe may scare off test takers and even result in a further spread of the disease.(Source: Global Times, Feb 21)
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◆Real-Name risks In a country where AIDS is still related to shame and despair by some, there were those who were inevitably left feeling nervous after a senior health official last Wednesday advocated using patients' real names during HIV/AIDS treatment. (Source: Global Times, Feb 13) |
◆Health official calls for real-name HIV testing
A senior health official on Wednesday advocated the use of real-name HIV testing, stating that the tests will be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.(Source: Xinhua, Feb 8)
Dispute: The necessity of real-name HIV tests
Dispute: Protection of privacy
Voices:
@白水加米饭: The discrimination against AIDS/HIV carriers is led by fear and a lack of awareness. So real-name HIV testing is not related to discrimination. Now, what we need to analyze is the cause of how AIDS is transmitted. We should measure what effect real-name HIV testing has in various links through transmission sources which may be related to AIDS.
@安徽携手同行: Real-name HIV testing will expose the privacy of those people who have been tested. Privacy needs to be protected. As for homosexuals, real-name HIV testing might prevent them from wanting to be tested in the first place.
@腾小飞: If the test agencies can protect patient privacy, this method could be adopted. If not, it will tread on the dignity of the patients.
@叶大伟: Adopting real-name testing doesn't mean that the tested people's privacy will be in jeopardy. I support this method, but the testing agencies will need to protect their information.
Regulations on HIV Supervision
◆The foreigners who will stay in China for more than one year must show the formal testimonial of HIV test to the Chinese consulate before getting the visa. The ones who have no condition to have a formal test must go to the special hospital to have a test within 20 days after arrival.
◆The foreigners with AIDS or AIDS virus are not permitted to enter China.
◆If a foreigner is found infected by AIDS in China, local health department can ask him to leave China at once.
"In fact in Canada and most EU countries, the real-name HIV test is accepted because of universal coverage of the countries. As the 'give-and-take conditions', these countries provide many interests to their people: medical welfare on examination and treatment, complete protection system for privacy and help from society to them."
- Editorial of Beijing News
◆Canada: 4 of the 13 states only provide name-based HIV test.
◆US: 11 of the 51 states only provide name-based HIV test.
◆EU: Some testing is available free of charge or at an anonymous service in all countries. However this is rarely universal practice, and may only be available at specialised services.