Antiviral therapy for HIV/AIDS offered free

Shan Juan

(China Daily )

Updated: 2016-06-20

Drugs have improved a lot and potential side effects, like rashes, are quite limited, expertsays

China is bringing free antiviral therapy to all citizens living with HIV/AIDS, the top healthauthority said.

Antiviral treatment should be recommended for all those with HIV/AIDS under China's newlyrevised guidelines, said an online notice issued by the National Health and Family PlanningCommission on Wednesday.

But it has to be on a voluntary basis to make sure they are fully prepared for a treatment thatis usually lifelong, it said.

"Treatment facilities must not force people to receive the therapy," it said.

Wu Hao, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at You An Hospital in Beijing, oneof the largest HIV/AIDS treatment centers nationwide, welcomed the initiative.

"It helps with better treatment outcomes for the sufferer and for public health as well."

The strategy of giving early treatment for all is in line with WHO guidelines issued last year,he added.

According to Wu, the therapy lowers the viral load and thus helps prevent further HIVtransmission.

Previously, antiviral therapy was offered only to those who haddeveloped a low level of immunity, which can lead to life-threatening opportunistic infections like pneumonia andencephalitis

He said early treatment improves outcomes and helps prolonglife spans, "even similar to that of healthy people".

Bao Yugang, deputy Asia bureau chief of United States-basedAIDS Healthcare Foundation, one of the largest NGOs for AIDStreatment and care in the world, said the US had implementedthe early treatment strategy about two years ago.

But he stressed good drug compliance is important to preventdrug resistance.

"Informed consent therefore is required to help sufferers prepare for the lifelong therapy,"Wu said.

Xiao Bing, a sophomore at a university in Wuhan, Hubei province, expressed concerns overside effects from the drugs. He tested positive for HIV in May.

Wu, in response, said drugs have improved a lot and potential side effects were quite limited,like skin rashes.

China has registered more than 577,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, accounting for 68percent of the estimated number of infected people, according to the National Center forAIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 390,000 arereceiving treatment.

In 2015, more than 100,000 were given the treatment and the number is expected to doublethis year, Wu said.