China is for the first time considering the addition of an
independent clause on AIDS prevention in its contagious disease
prevention and control law. The clause has been added to the draft
amendment to the law, which has been submitted to the ongoing 11th
meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
(NPC) for its third deliberation.
The clause says, "Governments at all levels must strengthen AIDS
prevention and control work in a bid to curb further spread of the
disease. Detailed measures can be stipulated by the State
Council."
Hu Guangbao, deputy director of NPC's Law Committee, said the
draft is expected to be passed at this meeting, as it incorporates
all the suggestions of lawmakers given in the previous two
deliberations.
The Standing Committee previously considered the draft in April
and June this year.
During the first two deliberations, some members suggested that
the law should designate the State Council as the body to implement
regulations on AIDS prevention and control. There were also
recommendations that a clause on eliminating discrimination against
people with AIDS should be written into the law, because social
bias against them has become serious. Other suggestions were the
incorporation of clauses stating that blood collection
organizations must guarantee quality of blood products and
specifying punishment for illegal blood collection and selling.
China reported its first AIDS case in 1985. By the end of 2003,
the country had 840,000 people infected with HIV/AIDS and the
epidemic had spread to all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities. The most recent statistics indicate that 11 percent
of AIDS patients were infected by blood transfusion.
(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2004)