Evolution and perfection of the HIV/AIDS designated hospital system in China / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the development of the HIV/AIDS designated hospital system, analyze the main issues and explore solutions for this system. Methods:184 leaders/experts of three levels of healthcare facilities ( provinces, cities and counties) from 30 provinces engaged in AIDS prevention and control for over five years, and 2,432 people living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) from seven provinces were investigated through two different question-naires. Results:According to the staff responses, the issues of surgery and hospitalization are difficult and outstand-ing for PLWHA due to the current designated hospital system with scores of 6. 49 in severity. Of the ten largest prob-lems, ranked third is the need for improved AIDS prevention and control. 2 367 (97. 3%) PLWHAs had an aware-ness of the designated hospitals, 1,376 received treatment in the designated hospitals, and 85. 5% believed that the illness was effectively treated, while 9. 0% thought that the medical technology of the designated hospital was limited;18 . 7% of hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients or those who received surgery experienced prevarication by the non-des-ignated hospitals. Policy analysis shows that China’s designated hospital system for PLWHA has developed gradually with the characteristics of periodic and temporary changes. Conclusion:The designated hospital system for PLWHA in China has played an important role, but there are still several problems. The government should improve the existing system by strengthening the comprehensive medical service capacity of designated hospitals, improving the mechanism of consultation and referrals, coordinating the non-designated hospitals to provide technical support, reducing dis-crimination and fear from medical staff against HIV/AIDS, decreasing the risk of occupational exposure, and enhan-cing the communication among hospitals, CDCs and patients.