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A spokesman for the Department of Health said today (December 1) that the government is committed to provide adequate care to all AIDS patients

The remark was made in response to a newspaper article today which reported that the new fee-charging policy would raise AIDS threat in the community.

In order to facilitate early detection of the disease, the government has been offering free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling to members of the public who are suspected to be infected, irrespective of whether the person concerned is a Hong Kong ID card holder or not.

"Consultation and treatment are also offered to local residents at heavily subsidize rates with a view to encouraging them to seek early treatment and to containing the spread of the disease.

"Local residents who are in financial hardship could seek help from the medical social workers for waiving of medical fees," the spokesman said.

Consultation for non Hong Kong ID card holders are charged on a cost-recovering basis and the fees will be reviewed from time to time.

"The policy is to achieve a balance amongst the interest of various sectors of the community while giving due regard to the long term sustainability of the public health care system," the spokesman said.

To commemorate World AIDS Day 2003, the Red Ribbon Centre has launched the following events:

* In collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China, and Radio Television Hong Kong, a joint publicity project including the production of a theme song "Walk Together", and an educational film "Love Under the Sun" has been developed.

* With technical support from the Red Ribbon Centre, the RTHK eTVonline.tv established a sex education website: http://www.SexEdonline.tv to provide medical knowledge to the general public.

End/Monday, December 1, 2003

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