Doctor Chen Jingyu (right) operates on a pneumoconiosis patient at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing in February. Zhu Xingxin/China Daily Restrictions on the diagnosis of an occupational lung disease that affects Chinese laborers should be relaxed to ensure patients get effective treatment, a State legislator has said ahead of the annual two sessions. Pneumoconiosis is caused by the inhalation of dust and affects industrial and agricultural workers. Among coal miners, the condition is often called black lung. China's current regulations state patients who suspect they have the condition must receive a diagnosis from an institute certified to handle occupational diseases, such as a center for disease control, before receiving treatment. Yet this is inconvenient for those living outside cities and means many people only seek help when they reach the late stages of the illness, according to Chen Jingyu, a deputy to the National People's Congress, the top legislature. I suggest we eliminate this monopoly in diagnosis and treatment of pneumoconiosis, Chen, who is vice-president of Wuxi People's Hospital in Jiangsu province, said this month. This would mean diagnosis and certification of the disease as an occupational disease are separated, and patients would get a more timely diagnosis and effective treatment. Wang Chen, president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said the medical community in China is generally in favor of loosening the restrictions on the disease. Pneumoconiosis is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis and extreme breathing difficulties, and brings tremendous pain to the patients, explained Wang, who is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top advisory body. Many patients are the main breadwinners in their family and are still young when they develop the disease, he added. They are one of the most vulnerable groups in society and deserve our utmost attention. According to Love Save Pneumoconiosis, an NGO that helps patients with the disease and promotes prevention, nearly 28,000 new cases of the disease were reported in China in 2016, up by more than 1,900 compared with 2015. The disease accounted for more than 85 percent of all reported diagnoses of occupational illnesses that year. The majority of people who contract pneumoconiosis in China, an estimated 6 million people, are migrant workers from rural areas, according to the NGO's statistics. Zhang Haichao from Xinmi, Henan province, devel-oped the disease in 2007 while working at a factory producing fireproof materials. He said that in many cities there is only one institute certified to diagnose the disease. Some institutes may also not give an accurate diagnosis due to interference from enterprises that want to avoid paying compensation to employees who develop an occupational disease, he said. Zhang said at least 90 percent of the migrant workers he has known who have pneumoconiosis are not covered by work injury insurance and have received no compensation from their employers. Medical bills are their biggest problem now, he said. Many authorities have increased social security for such groups in recent years, including in Henan province, where in some areas patients with occupational diseases can get a full refund on their medical expenses. Meng Yanhua, a professor in occupational safety at China University of Labor Relations, said a major problem in prevention and control of occupational diseases is the lack of talent. There's no university with a major in occupational health, she said, and most companies don't know what to do to help employees prevent occupational diseases. custom bar braceletcustom sports braceletscustom logo wristbandsde securite pour personne ageeembossed wristbandscolorfilled wristbandsembossed printed wristbandsdual layer wristbands
He Jiankui is reflected in a glass panel as he works at a computer at a laboratory in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, Oct 10, 2018. [Photo/IC] GUANGZHOU, Jan. 21 -- A preliminary investigation into the claimed genetically edited babies shows that Chinese researcher He Jiankui had defied government bans and conducted the research in the pursuit of personal fame and gain. The investigation team of Guangdong Province announced on Monday that He had intentionally dodged supervision, raised funds and organized researchers on his own to carry out the human embryo gene-editing intended for reproduction, which is explicitly banned by relevant regulations. He Jiankui, associate professor with Shenzhen-based Southern University of Science and Technology, claimed in November 2018 that the world's first genetically edited babies were born, and their DNA was altered to prevent them from contracting HIV. According to the investigation, in June 2016, He started the project and organized a team that included some overseas members. He conducted the gene-editing activities using technologies without safety and effectiveness guarantee. With a fake ethical review certificate, He recruited eight volunteer couples (the males tested positive for the HIV antibody, females tested negative for the HIV antibody) and carried out experiments from March 2017 to November 2018. As HIV carriers are not allowed to have assisted reproduction, He asked others to replace the volunteers to take blood tests and asked researchers to edit genes on human embryos and implant them into the females' body. Two volunteers were pregnant. One gave birth to twin girls Lulu and Nana. The other is still pregnant. One couple quit the experiment halfway through, and the other five couples did not conceive. The activities seriously violated ethical principles and scientific integrity and breached relevant regulations of China, according to the investigation. Officials in charge of the investigation said, He, as well as other relevant personnel and organizations, will receive punishment according to laws and regulations. Those who are suspected of committing crimes will be transferred to the public security department. The babies and the pregnant volunteer will receive medical observation and follow-up visits.
