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China's southwestern province of Yunnan would require annual HIV/AIDS tests for people working in hotels, nightclubs and other entertainment outlets, the Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.
Under the new rules, announced Monday and effective immediately, those testing positive would be dismissed, Xinhua said.
The free tests are meant to identify people with HIV/AIDS to provide them with treatment and curb the spread of the virus, said Wang Yinsheng, an official at the Yunnan AIDS Prevention Center.
"This is to help reduce the chance of spreading and help them to get timely treatment," Wang said.
Those who tested positive for HIV/AIDS or for venereal diseases would be denied a certificate of good health, without which they could not legally work in the hospitality or service industries, Xinhua said.
Employees of hotels, bath houses, beauty salons, nightclubs and other entertainment venues are covered by the rules.
Wang said health authorities insisted those who tested positive not be fired. They could instead be moved to jobs not involving contact with the public, he said.
Bordering on Southeast Asia's drug-producing Golden Triangle, Yunnan has China's second largest population of registered AIDS sufferers.
The province has taken some of the country's most aggressive response measures, including promoting condom use and clean needles and setting up AIDS monitoring and treatment centers.
Most of the HIV/AIDS carriers in China became infected through intravenous drug use, although unsanitary blood-buying schemes mainly in Henan _ the worst affected area _ accounted for large numbers as well.
Henan has also mandated AIDS tests for people in service industries.
The U.N. AIDS agency says the number of infected people in China could rise to 10 million by 2010 unless urgent action is taken.
Since last year, health officials have offered free AIDS tests and free treatment for the poor. Health officials are also now encouraging pregnant women to be tested.
Editor: Catherine
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