China’s Ministry of Health announces an expansion of its essential medicines list. Looks like there will be increased access to cancer treatments, and a series of drug cost cuts. In 2002, anti-retrovirals (ARVs) were added to the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, but no plans yet for China to add them to the list. China currently provides a limited number of first-line ARVs under the Four Frees and One Care Policy.
[NEWS] China: Reject “Real-Name” HIV Testing to Fight AIDS ｜ 中国：抗击艾滋病 拒绝HIV检测”实名制”
By Asia Catalyst
On February 8, China’s Ministry of Health and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) both expressed support for new proposed regulations in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that would implement real-name testing for HIV, suggesting these could become national policy. Wang Yu, Director of the Chinese CDC, said that real-name HIV testing would allow health workers to follow-up with people who test positive, helping them to access treatment and prevent transmitting HIV to sexual partners.
We are concerned that without stronger confidentiality protections and stronger laws on discrimination, a move to real-name HIV testing will drive more people underground and away from government testing and treatment programs. Please sign this petition to the Ministry of Health.
[REPORT] Managing Strengths and Weaknesses: A Survey of Chinese Health Rights Groups (2012)
China Program Officer Mike Frick produced a snapshot of the current state of health rights groups in China, based off information gathered from NGOs that participated in Asia Catalyst’s coaching program. China’s civil society sector has grown rapidly over the past ten years, but it is still in an early stage of development. Because most grassroots NGOs are unable to legally register, and because most founders have little to no prior NGO or management experience, they face numerous challenges in the effort to professionalize operations while providing needed services and conducting policy advocacy. Read the full report here.
[RESOURCE] Three Ways To Improve Your Nonprofit Web Presence
By Lizzy Berryman
Running a nonprofit can be hard. There are challenges of budget and of message. It can be difficult to allocate resources effectively, organize volunteers, and to reach key audiences.
Simply staying on timelines and goals can be a huge effort. Many believe that adding changing digital technologies to the mix can just become overwhelming hassle, but it doesn’t have to be. These days, building and maintaining a digital presence through a website and social media platforms is not only necessary, they are also critical tools that can be used to engage audiences and communicate your work in new and interesting ways.
[NEWS] Yirenping Center Reports on Disability Activism
Beijing grassroots group, Yirenping Center (益仁平中心), has had a busy January organizing anti-discrimination activities with local disability activists! They produced a short report with data about their activities, including links to Chinese media sources. Yirenping Center, established in 2006, is a public interest group that focuses on health and discrimination. Download their report here (PDF).
The views represented by Yirenping Center are not necessarily those of Asia Catalyst.
