Shots in the Arm

With China being the first country to report cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and also the first to contain it, an analysis of the country’s fight against the virus shows the situation was effectively controlled due to three major institutional strengths.

First, China’s basic medical insurance system that covers the whole population played a fundamental role. People did not shy away from seeking treatment fearing it would burn a hole in their pocket. The government earmarked subsidies to make all treatments for COVID-19 patients free. Medical insurance funds were prepaid to hospitals to ensure that they did not delay services because of financial problems.

Second, the national governance system also played a decisive role. The strong mobilization capability and allocation of resources on a war footing—from the temporary lockdown of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province in central China where the outbreak was first reported, to nationwide containment measures, from the rapid construction of makeshift hospitals to pairing cities in Hubei with other provinces for greater assistance—highlighted the well-coordinated governance exercised under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Finally, the people-centric approach also made a huge difference. Working for the people’s welfare is the governing philosophy of the CPC. Priority was given to saving lives during the epidemic despite the blow to economic growth. The right to life is the greatest human right, without which all human rights become empty talk.

However, while the initial victory over the virus shows the advantages of the Chinese system, there remain areas where improvements are needed. For instance, in the early stage of the outbreak, epidemic prevention and control materials were in short supply. Disease prevention and control teams in some cities were understaffed. Based on the experience gained, China is taking the initiative to improve preparedness for public health emergencies.

Healthcare is an important item on the agenda of the Two Sessions, the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress, the national legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. Earlier, the central authorities issued guidelines on advancing the reform of the public health security system. A series of new measures are in the pipeline to improve responses to major outbreaks and deliver more accessible, higher-quality medical services.