A couple of newborns were found to have sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis last year in China's Helongjiang Province, after a voluntary health check-up system was adopted two years ealier, leading the public to worry about the new marriage policy's effectiveness.
 
The babies were all infected with the diseases when their mother gave birth to them.

Formerly, premarital check-ups were compulsory in China. But in October of 2003, the country abolished this requirement.

Since then, the rate of premarital physical check-ups in Helongjiang, which was once 100 percent, has plummeted to a current mere 3 percent.

Since the new policy, the incident rate of mental, contagious, and hereditary diseases has been on the rise.

Therefore, Shi Zhixin, a legislator of the province, has proposed restoring the traditional practice of compulsory premarital physical check-ups in China.

He said implementing the premarital check-ups would not only serve every family, but also benefit the whole nation.

People once considered the cancellation as an indication of social progress and an increased respect for privacy, but now the alarm bell is ringing for young couples, said Shi.

Compulsory premarital check-ups are quite necessary in controlling birth defects and ensuring babies' healthy growth, said a doctor in a local hospital, adding that doctors also should take the check-up seriously and be responsible for the young couples.

Local residents were quoted as saying that they applauded the legislator's proposal, hoping the government would restore the compulsory premarital check-up as soon as possible.

(China Daily February 22, 2006)