China to treat more AIDS patients with free therapy

China will provide an additional 20,000 to 30,000 AIDS patients with free antiretroviral treatment next year, Hao Yang, deputy head of the disease control department under the Chinese Ministry of Health, said Tuesday at a press conference hosted jointly with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. "By the end of June a total of 10,388 AIDS patients from 18 provinces have received free antiretroviral therapy," Hao said. Providing treatment to large number of AIDS patients is challenging, Hao acknowledged, adding that China will continue to improve testing and monitoring facilities and gradually expand free treatment based on scientific and cautious operation. Richard Feachem, the Global Fund's executive director, said he was "encouraged by the commitment of the Chinese government and other organizations in China to seriously address the issue and overcome HIV."