Two public health officials in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have been found guilty of malpractice, which led to 11 people contracting the HIV/AIDS virus.

Li Zhanping, former director of the Qingshuihe County Public Health Bureau, was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years.

His former deputy Yang Fei also received three years, but it was suspended for four years.

Li and Yang's violation of the nation's blood donation law and the regulation for the clinical use of blood led to the 11 contracting HIV/AIDS.

A hospital in the county illegally collected and provided blood to about 30 patients for transfusions, and carried out various blood tests during the course of about a year from November 27, 1999.

The 11 were among those who had a transfusion.

The spouses of two of the 11 were later infected and one of them died.

The hospital had been banned from doing anti-body tests for hepatitis C, AIDS and syphilis due to a lack of screening procedures. But it continued to do so illegally.

Li and Yang, during their tenure at the health authority, did not stop the hospital from doing so, although they were fully aware of the situation.

Their penalties were made in accordance with Article 397 of the Criminal Law of China, which covers malpractice.

Wang Xiaoling, former president of the hospital, Zhang Jun, former vice-president, and three others associated with the hospital have been charged with dereliction of duty.

They are yet to appear before the court.

(China Daily February 2, 2005)