HIV/AIDS testing at ports of entry in China
Lai, D.; Hwang, L.-Y.; Beasley, R.P.
Journal of Public Health Policy 32(2): 251-262
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1745-655X PMID: 21368848 DOI: 10.1057/jphp.2011.9Document Number: 226900
In 2007 the Chinese government issued regulations requiring HIV/AIDS testing for Chinese citizens returning at ports of entry if they had resided outside China for 1 year or longer. Three years after publication and partial implementation of the regulations, the Chinese government decided to eliminate compulsory HIV/AIDS testing of returning Chinese. We examine the history of China's HIV/AIDS testing regulations on entry-exit populations, showing how China has gradually altered its policy. As of December 2010, the policy of compulsory HIV/AIDS testing of returning Chinese has been abandoned; however, the regulations still compel HIV/AIDS testing for other groups inside China. Our review sheds new light on the dynamics of regulatory changes in the last 3 years. The Chinese experience that we observed may provide useful insights for policymakers in other parts of the world.