Czech Patient Group Calls for Mandatory HIV Testing Among Health Professionals

The Czech Patients' Association recently called for mandatory HIV testing among all health workers in the country, the CTK/Prague Daily Monitor reports. Both the Czech Health Ministry and the Czech Doctors' Chamber oppose compulsory testing for doctors and other health professionals. President of the Czech Doctors' Chamber, Milan Kubek, said the proposal for mandatory testing is "outrageous," adding, "It is impossible to demand that medical personnel undergo testing on the mandatory basis." Kubek also said that mandatory testing could be discriminatory. Deputy Health Minister Marek Snajdr said the ministry is not planning to implement mandatory testing, citing one of the reasons as the high cost of testing all 200,000 doctors and nurses registered in the country. The proposal comes after an Albanian dentist was detained by the Czech police for violating an order to halt his practice after he was found to be HIV-positive, according to the CTK/Prague Daily Monitor (CTK/Prague Daily Monitor, 3/23).