Discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS is still rife in China despite constant top-down efforts addressing the issue, according to a survey released on Friday.

More than 40 percent of the total 2,096 respondents, all HIV positive, said they had suffered HIV-related discrimination. Also, 12 percent had been denied medical treatment due to their HIV status, according to the survey, called the China Stigma Index, conducted by the Chinese Ministry of Health, UNAIDS and Chinese civil societies.

The survey is reportedly the first evidence-based report on discrimination in China.