The “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Regulations” announced by Xinhua Net on Feb. 12 defined that without permission of individual or guardian, no agency or department may publicly reveal the names of family members, home address, work address, pictures, medical history and other information of people living with HIV/AIDS which may reveal their identity.

The regulation also stipulates the penalties to be enforced should the rules be violated. Health service agencies violating the regulation will be penalized according to the infectious disease prevention regulations. Immigration health screening agencies, family planning services and other agencies and individuals who violate this regulation will be subject to reprimand, warning, penalty or removal of license of the agency or individual.

According to the ministry of health, United Nations Programme on AIDS and the WHO 2005 estimates, China currently have 650,000 people who live with HIV/AIDS.

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