Report about public health to be reviewed

Work plan looks to solve problems that were uncovered by COVID-19 outbreak

China’s top legislature will review a report on strengthening the public health-related legislative work plan next week to cover the health sector’s shortages and solve problems exposed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is the first time that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, has created a work plan for making laws and amendments for a special sector, Yue Zhongming, spokesman of the committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, said on Wednesday.

Yue noted the report will be submitted to the top legislative body for deliberation at its bimonthly session, which will open on Sunday and close on Wednesday.

“The legislature has put people’s safety as the top priority while fighting the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, and the current laws have played a significant role in preventing and controlling the outbreak. But a few shortages in the public health industry were still uncovered,” he said.

“After studying the overall legislative work plan of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, we drafted this report in an effort to solve these problems, and to promote legal support for public health and alleviate people’s concerns,” he added.

Since the outbreak hit the country, the commission has explained the decision to harshly crack down on the illegal consumption of wild animals, which was made by the legislature in February, Yue said.

In addition, “we had more studies on amending drafts to laws covering public health, including those on biosecurity, the civil code and the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste,” he said.

The commission also reviewed public health-related legislative suggestions from NPC deputies, political advisers, government agencies, experts, media and think tanks, as well as intensified communication and coordination with State Council organs and the legislature’s special committees, according to Yue.

On April 17, the chairpersons’ meeting of the NPC Standing Committee disclosed content ready to be deliberated on during the bimonthly session.

The meeting suggested the legislature review a draft revision to the law on the control and prevention of environmental pollution by solid waste, a draft law on administrative punishments for those working in the public sector and a draft biosecurity law.

Proposals on revising the laws on animal epidemic prevention, the People’s Armed Police Force and copyright are also expected to be read during the session.

Besides the report on strengthening the public health-related legislative work plan, the legislature will also review reports on environmental protection and proposals on a draft decision to authorize the State Council to temporarily adjust relevant laws and regulations in the Hainan pilot free trade zone.