Sub-headline: 220,000 people have already died of AIDS in China’s AIDS prevention pilot areas

In order to further control the spread of AIDS in China, in March of this year the Ministry of Health established “AIDS Control Pilot Area” project which now includes 54 pilot areas in 11 key provinces. This reporter has learned that in these areas, everyone who contracted AIDS though blood transfusions can receive free medical treatement.

220,000 people have already died of AIDS 　　

The MOH released the country’s latest AIDS statistics at the end of September: To date China has 840,000 people infected with HIV, among which 80,000 are ill with AIDS. From January to June this year, the number or reported infections in China rose 20.3% over the same period last year, and the number of reported cases of full-blown AIDS shot up 140.1%.

Prior to this, related government departments had announced the news that “China has more than 1 million people with HIV and AIDS”, so many readers may view this latest news with skepticism. This reporter learned from officials in charge of AIDS prevention publicity work that the Chinese CDC’s Health Education Institute has confirmed these numbers. The director of the Health information dissemination Center Wang Xinlun said that the information released by the Ministry of Health is accurate, and that earlier figures were announced without separating the number of people who are HIV+, those who are sick with AIDS, and those who had already died from the disease. The latest figures indicate that 840,000 Chinese are living with HIV, and that to date 220,000 have died after falling ill from AIDS, so the total number has already passed 1 million people.

Compulsory Price Cuts bring with them “Free Treatment”

In order to further control the AIDS epidemic, from March this year the Ministry of Health implemented the “Comprehensive AIDS Pilot Area” project, starting primarily with treatment and care work. At present the first 54 pilot areas already cover 11 key provinces, and in 2003 will be expanded to at least 100 counties.

In the process of reporting, this journalist learned that anyone in the pilot areas who contracted HIV through blood transfusions (sic) will receive free treatment --- “free treatment” is the biggest wish of those with HIV/AIDS, and the hardest task to carry out! Director Wang Xinlun says that the provision of free treatment in pilot areas will directly benefit if China uses “Compulsory methods” to push for a policy on the domestic production of AIDS drugs.

In the second half of last year, National authorities approved the China Northeast Pharmaceutical company and Desano Pharmaceutical Company to produce Zidovudine, Stavudine, and Nevirapine and other drugs needed for “Jiweijiu” [drug cocktail] treatment. This brought the cost of treatment way down. “Once the cost of treatment goes down, the country can provide free treatment for a portion of those with AIDS”.

State Council exempts anti-AIDS medicine from Value Added Tax

This reporter has learned that with the four drugs the government has already approved, two “drug cocktails” can be made. In addition, the price of these drugs is strictly controlled, which has brought the price down from RMB 40,000 per year for imported drugs to about RMB 3,500. Enough medicine was produced in 2003 for 5,000 people, all of which was used for AIDS patients in Henan, Anhui, and other areas hit by AIDS.

In creating the “Comprehensive AIDS pilot areas”, the government has not only addressed poor, high risk, and heavily affected areas, it has also given – as much as possible – a green light to the production of anti-AIDS drugs. This reporter has also learned that the State Council yesterday approved the granting of VAT-free preferential tax status for drug companies producing anti-AIDS drugs.