Evolution of information-driven HIV/AIDS policies in China

Sun, Xinhua; Lu, Fan; Wu, Zunyou; Poundstone, Katharine; Zeng, Gang; Xu, Peng; Zhang, Dapeng; Liu, Kangmai; Liau, Adrian

The Chinese government issued a series of early policies focused mainly on blood product safety, case identification and preventing the spread of HIV from infected foreigners entering the country. 4 The first HIV/AIDS policy document entitled 'The Joint Notice on Preventing HIV from Entering China by Restricting Import of Blood Products' was issued on 17 September 1984. 5 In 1986, the Ministry of Health classified HIV/AIDS as a Class B infectious disease notifiable through the national infectious disease reporting system. 6 To prevent HIV-infected foreigners from entering into China, a series of policies were issued. Foreign students and research scholars visiting and living in China for 412 months had to submit to HIV testing procedures 1 month after entry into the country. Other foreigners residing or living in China for 412 months had to provide health certificates and were asked to specify if they were infected with HIV/ AIDS. Foreigners found to be HIV infected at Chinese cross-border and customs checkpoints were forced to leave the country and were placed under quarantine before departure. 2, [25] [26] [27] To enforce this