Protesters want compensation

Ministry of Health officials are open to petitions from the people and are always concerned about the citizens' needs, said vice health minister Huang Jiefu on Friday.

He made the remarks in response to a small-scale protest for better medical treatment in front of the ministry on Wednesday. The people demanded more financial aid and free medical care from the government.

The 38 protesters were reportedly HIV/AIDS sufferers from Henan province, most of whom got infected from tainted blood transfusions.