[The testing policy for HIV infection in Ukraine]

The policy of the Ministry of Health of the Ukraine since 1987 concerning the control of the spread of HIV infection was analyzed. The main measure for the prophylaxis and epidemiological control of the infection was mass testing for HIV, carried out in accordance with the law adopted in 1991. In 1997 changes and amendments were supplemented to this Law, which legally abolished obligatory testing for HIV. The data on the effective and less effective testing policy are presented. In particular, these data revealed that the irrational testing policy resulted on the fact that only 5% of the whole population of drug addicts were covered by surveillance. Future prospects were shown to include the introduction of the system of "patrol" epidemiological surveillance, the strengthening of the analytical component of epidemiological surveillance, the approval of the new strategic plan of the prophylaxis for AIDS for 1998-2000, as well as the renewal of the normative and methodological basis.