China to ban mandatory hepatitis B tests

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China to ban mandatory hepatitis B tests

(AFP) – 1 day ago

BEIJING — China has said it will ban mandatory hepatitis B tests for employees

joining companies and students enrolling in schools in an effort to stamp out

discrimination against the nation's millions of carriers.

" Health institutions face punishment if they are found administering hepatitis B

tests to education applicants or job candidates for ordinary professions, "

health ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said in a statement.

" The Ministry of Health will strengthen the supervision of medical and health

institutions to ensure they comply ... with the adjusted regulation and

investigate and prosecute those who violate the rules. "

Mao did not specify in the statement, posted on the ministry's website on

Tuesday, when the rules would take effect.

Applicants for jobs in professions where the virus could be spread, such as

blood collection, would still face restrictions, the spokesman said.

More than 90 million people in China have hepatitis B, which is transmitted

through sexual contact, childbirth and blood transfusions, according to the

World Health Organization.

The new rules follow a Beijing district court ruling in May last year that the

tests amounted to illegal discrimination.

A design company was ordered to pay a job applicant around 20,000 yuan (2,950

dollars) after it withdrew an offer because he had hepatitis B, according to the

Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin.

The court judgement was the first time a hepatitis case was successfully

litigated in China, according to the group, which monitors the protection of

rights of mainland workers.

Previous cases were settled through court-ordered mediation or private

agreements.

AFP.