简介：Comparedwithhighinfectionareasoftheworld,thetotalHIVinfectionrateinChinaisrelativelylow.Nonetheless,becauseofChina'svastterritoryandlargepopulation,thepotentialinfectionriskmustbetakenseriously.Inthenextfewyears,needlesharingamonginjectiondruguserswillremainthemostcommonrouteoftransmissionfortheHIV/AIDSepidemicinChina.Unprotectedsexisgraduallybecomingamajorrouteoftransmission.ChinabegantoimplementHAARTin1999accordingtointernationalstandards.Priorto2003,therewereonlyabout150HIV/AIDSpatientsweretreatedwithHAARTinsomeclinicaltrialsandabout100HIV/AIDSpatientsweretreatedbyprivatesources.ResultsofthosetreatmentsarethescientificbasisfordevelopmentofthetherapeuticstrategiesinChina.InMarchof2003,theChinesegovernmentinitiatedChinaCARESprogram.InNovemberof2003,theChineseMinistryofHealthannouncedanationalpolicyoffreeARVtreatmenttoallHIV+ChinesecitizenswhowereinpovertyandrequiredARVtherapy.Therearetotalof19,456HIV/AIDSpatientsreceivedfreeARVdrugstodatein159regionsand441towns.Currentchallengesarehowtofollow-upandevaluatethosepatientsintheclinicalsettings.Thelongerthetherapyispostponed,themoresideeffectsandthehigherprobabilityofdrugresistancearegoingtooccur.Itremainsunclear,therefore,whenHAARTregimenshouldbestartedintheHIV/AIDSpopulationinChina.