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[podcast]http://66.147.244.109/~myfamio6/myhealthbeijing/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/113007_CUT.mp3[/podcast]

One of the miracles of the past decade in medicine was how AIDS turned from a fatal diagnosis into a chronic disease which could be managed with medicines, just like you would with diabetes or high blood pressure. These new medicines have allowed millions of HIV-positive people worldwide to live decades longer than they ever thought they would. But there’s still the stigma of AIDS in many societies, including here in China. During my podcast this week we discuss one case of some civil service workers who were turned down teaching jobs in China due to their HIV status. There really is no justification to deny someone a job based on their HIV status, certainly not in a typical civil service job. A teacher isn’t going to spread AIDS from a handshake, and they certainly now can have long and productive careers on the medicines. You can hear more about this issue by clicking on the links above. (You can read more about AIDS and HIV from the World AIDS Day website). On this podcast, we also discuss yet another counterfeit drug ring in China, this one making very common medicines such as Fenbid and birth control pills. It’s another example of how you get what you pay for.

More Podcast Information

You can always listen live to my radio interview each Wednesday around 7:35am Beijing time, on the Beijing Hour program on EZFM 91.5, which is broadcast from 7-8am every weekday by host Paul James. EZFM is the popular bilingual radio station on the China Radio International network, broadcasting here in Beijing and on multiple stations all over the world, as well as live online here.

You can listen to all my previous podcasts at the podcast archive.