XN000022-1985-04-17 — Page 45

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1935

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FUNDS SOUGHT FOR AIDS TEST IN BLOOD ******

FUNDS WILL BE SOUGHT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO ENABLE ALL DONATED BLOOD TO BE SCREENED FOR EVIDENCE OF INFECTION WITH AIDS AND TO PROVIDE LABORATORY FACILITIES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF SUSPECTED AIDS CASES.

THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AT ITS PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD AFTER THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.

THE REQUEST FOR FUNDS IS BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION BY THE EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIDS SET UP BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT FOLLOWS THE RECENT LICENSING IN THE UNITED STATES OF A SCREENING TEST FOR ANTIBODY TO THE AIDS VIRUS, USING THE ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELIZA) TECHNIQUE.

IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT ALL DONATED BLOOD IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE TESTED FOR ANTIBODY TO THE AIDS VIRUS AT THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION CENTRE.

IT IS ALSO FELT ESSENTIAL THAT ADEQUATE SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO COVER INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO THE HIGH RISK GROUPS ON A DOCTOR REFERRAL BASIS, PATIENTS HAVING OR SUSPECTED OF HAVING AIDS, AND FOR THE MEDICAL EVALUATION OF PERSONS WITH A POSITIVE ANTIBODY TEST.

IN THIS CONNECTION, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE FUNDS FOR SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT VIRUS LABORATORY AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, AND THE INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL. AND YAN DI POLYCLINIC.

FACILITIES SOUGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT VIRUS LABORATORY WILL EE FOR BLOOD TESTS FOR AIDS INFECTION, WHILE THOSE SOUGHT FOR THE INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY WILL BE FOR TESTS FOR THE STUDY OF THE DEFENCE MECHANISM OF THE BODY AND ITS DEFICIENCY,

TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO ACCEPT VARIOUS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, ESTIMATED AT $967 000 IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND $3 270 000 IN ANNUAL RE CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE FIRST YEAR, RISING TO $4 904 000 IN THE SECOND YEAR AND THEREAFTER.

/OTHER ITEMS