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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS:
The Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS (ACA) today (June 17) launched a public consultation on the draft of HIV Infection and Health Care Workers - Recommended Guidelines (the Guidelines). The consultation will last for three months until September 16.
"The Guidelines aim to provide information and guidance for addressing the complex and sensitive subject of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection and health care workers in the local setting. It is relevant to many stakeholders, including health care workers, professional bodies, AIDS service providers and people living with HIV/AIDS," an ACA spokesman said.
"The current Guidelines, formulated in 1994, were last updated in 2003. In view of the expanded scientific knowledge in the field and local developments over the last decade, the ACA undertook to review and revise the Guidelines. In the process of updating the Guidelines, the ACA has actively sought views and feedback from a variety of stakeholders, including those in the HIV and health care fields. We will continue to monitor overseas and local developments for future recommendations," the spokesman said.
Areas which have been updated in the draft Guidelines include the risk of HIV transmission, infection control, counselling and testing, and rights and responsibilities of health care workers. Key features are summarised as follows:
* Update on the global HIV epidemiology, overseas risk and incidents of health care provider-patient HIV transmission;
* Update on the terminology on infection control, adding the imperative for professional and ethical considerations, and expansion of the implication of improved HIV management;
* Streamlining the sections on Infection Control;
* Update on the terminology of "Standard Precaution against Blood/Body Fluid Exposure" section, and supplement to post-exposure management;
* Expansion of the content of the "HIV Counselling and related services for health care workers" section by including HIV counselling and testing services;
* Expansion of factors to be considered by the Expert Panel and adding the definition of exposure prone procedures;
* Update on the "Risk Communication" section by summarising the mechanisms of preventing HIV transmission in health care setting, which should be widely and constantly communicated to the public.
"We welcome members of the public to offer their views on the draft Guidelines. The ACA will carefully consider the views and comments before finalising the draft," the spokesman said.
The draft Guidelines have been uploaded to the ACA website (www.aca.gov.hk). The current 2003 Guidelines are also available on the website (www.aca.gov.hk/english/archives/archives_strategy.html).
Views and comments may be sent to the ACA by post (address: 3/F, Wang Tau Hom Jockey Club Clinic, 200 Junction Road East, Wang Tau Hom, Kowloon), by fax (2337 0897), or via e-mail (aca@dh.gov.hk) on or before September 16.
Ends/Monday, June 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:00
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