Dongguan has reiterated a strict ban on hepatitis B tests during pre-employment physical examinations.
Dongguan has reiterated a strict ban on hepatitis B tests during pre-employment physical examinations as many companies reportedly violate rules to require hepatitis B tests for job applicants, Southern Metropolis Daily reported on February 18.
According to the ban, Hepatitis B tests will be totally prohibited during pre-employment physical examinations, regardless volunteer or compulsory. The health department of Dongguan municipal government said the introduction of the ban was very necessary because some companies began to let job applicants test Hepatitis B voluntarily , putting the job applicants at a disadvantage.
The ban came after The Ministry of Health issued a notice, requiring all-levels of medical institution not to do hepatitis B tests during pre-employment physical examinations a few days ago. The ban also requires that only the job applicants can read their pre-employment physical examination reports.
The central government had banned hepatitis B tests for school enrollment and employment nationwide since February 2010, but some companies continue to violate the law by letting their job applicants do Hepatitis B tests voluntarily .
The health department of Dongguan municipal government said it received thirteen complaints on medical institutions doing Hepatitis B tests without checked person s permit last year, but none of the complaints went into investigation because the complainers changed their phone numbers or provided a wrong number.
Currently, more than 100 million people in China are infected with the HB virus, which the WHO says is transmitted only through blood transfusions, sexual contact or childbirth.
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Despite constant government efforts, many still suffer groundless discrimination and even rejection in social life, particularly in education and employment, experts said.
