Xi stresses strong public health system to safeguard people’s health

BEIJING President Xi Jinping tuesday called for efforts to develop a strong public health system to safeguard people’s health. Xi, made the remarks when presiding over a symposium attended by experts and scholars. Noting that the people’s security is the cornerstone of national security, Xi called for readiness for worstcase scenarios, stronger awareness of potential dangers and constant efforts to forestall major risks in health care. Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee attended the symposium. Experts and scholars spoke and put forward suggestions at the symposium. Xi exchanged views with experts and scholars who spoke at the symposium. When delivering a very important speech, Xi noted that the CPC Central Committee, in the face of the unexpected COVID19 epidemic, took the overall situation into account, made resolute decisions, and insisted on putting people’s lives and health first. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi expressed gratitude to the experts and scholars for their important contributions to epidemic containment. Xi required efforts to make disease prevention measures more calibrated and effective, calling for greater reform in streamlining systems and mechanisms, clarifying functions and improving professional competence. Xi stressed the pressing need for boosting the earlystage epidemic monitoring and warning capacity to improve the public health system, including efforts for a better monitoring system for epidemics and public health emergencies, and a better monitoring mechanism for diseases of unknown causes and abnormal health incidents. Party committees and governments at all levels were asked to put in place public health working mechanisms for the regular study and deployment of epidemic prevention and containment. Xi urged drawing on the experience accumulated in fighting COVID19 and making innovations in carrying out public health campaigns, stressing the transformation from environmental sanitation to comprehensive societywide health management. Xi stressed the need to advance the revision of laws including the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases to improve the response measures against major emerging infectious diseases and sudden outbreaks. Stating that science and technology are sharp weapons in humanity’s battle against diseases, Xi said humanity cannot defeat a major disaster or epidemic without scientific development and technological innovation. He called for increasing scientific and technological inputs in the health sector and attracting more talent for scientific research.

(Xinhua)