Xi calls for reforming public health systems
Disease control, prevention crucial for social stability, national security
China will reform its disease prevention and control system to improve the capabilities in pandemic monitoring and emergency response, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
The prevention of major pandemics and resolving public health risks are of great significance for national security and social stability, which should be planned from an overall perspective, Xi said.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while speaking with deputies from Hubei province at the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature.
China’s health systems have played an important role in dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak, but shortcomings have also been exposed, Xi said, adding that more reform measures are needed to plug gaps.
Xi pointed out that prevention is the most effective and economic strategy, and the operation of disease prevention institutions should be improved.
Xi said the system of surveillance for unknown diseases and abnormal health incidents should be reformed and risks should be analyzed at an early stage. He also instructed authorities to strengthen capacity building in the response to outbreaks.
Coordinated efforts must be made in the response of hospitals, cooperation between regions and mobilization of personnel in emergencies, Xi said, adding that the building of national and regional medical centers should be strengthened.
He instructed authorities to speed up the creation of a comprehensive set of public health laws and regulations and improve the system for enforcing laws on disease prevention and control.
The president urged authorities to improve the environment in urban and rural areas, bolster public health infrastructure and promote health education and healthy lifestyles, including social distancing, wearing masks outdoors and trash sorting.
The people in Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, have made great contributions in the fight against COVID-19, Xi said, adding that he extended best wishes and thanks to the heroic people of Hubei and Wuhan.
He cautioned that disease prevention measures should be continuously enforced to prevent imported cases or a resurgence of COVID-19, given that the virus is still spreading widely overseas, cases still exist in some places in the nation and separate cases are confirmed in Hubei from time to time.
As the most hard-hit Chinese province that underwent the most restrictions for the longest time, Hubei is facing many difficulties in reactivating its economy, Xi said.
The CPC Central Committee has written policies to support the economic and social development of Hubei, he said, adding that local authorities should coordinate disease prevention work with development.
Xi instructed local officials to use targeted measures in communities, increase medical test coverage, speed up resumption of work and production and help enterprises resolve problems.
He stressed the importance of employing college graduates and migrant workers; providing help to resolve people’s problems with pensions, healthcare and education; working hard to fulfill the poverty elimination goal; and paying attention to patients’ psychological health.
Central authorities and Stateowned enterprises should increase supportive measures for Hubei and implement those measures as soon as possible, he said.
President Xi Jinping’s remarks during a panel discussion of National People’s Congress deputies from Hubei province have fully approved Hubei people’s efforts in containing the novel coronavirus outbreak, and his words will boost their confidence to recover from COVID19, NPC deputies from Hubei said on Sunday.
President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined a deliberation with deputies from Hubei at the third session of the 13th NPC, China’s top legislature, on Sunday afternoon.
“President Xi asked how many medics there are at the department of infectious diseases at my hospital and if they are enough ... I didn’t expect him to pay attention to such small details,” said NPC deputy Luo Jie, president of Taihe Hospital in Shiyan city.
“It’s obvious that President Xi has given a lot of thought on how to improve China’s emergency response system in epidemic prevention and control.”
Luo said the president also emphasized the importance of controlling the epidemic in accordance with the law.
I was most impressed by how President Xi urged Hubei to fully implement the central government’s policies especially designed to help Hubei’s economy to recover swiftly. I think it will greatly boost Hubei people’s confidence in getting through the tough time.” Song Qingli, an NPC deputy and a farmer
Deputy Zhang Wenxi, Party secretary of the village of Chenyu in the provincial capital Wuhan, told Xi how the village people fought the epidemic and the gaps that were exposed during the process.
“As President Xi said, hospitals and communities are the two front lines in the fight against the COVID19 outbreak. We must find ways to fix those gaps in epidemic control at the grassroots level,” Zhang said.
“I was most impressed by how President Xi urged Hubei to fully implement the central government’s policies especially designed to help Hubei’s economy to recover swiftly. I think it will greatly boost Hubei people’s confidence in getting through the tough time,” said deputy Song Qingli, a farmer from Hefeng county.
The president also asked about the local average annual income as he talked about poverty alleviation efforts in the county, Song said.
“It shows that seeing people living a good life is important for President Xi,” Song said.
Xi also knew about the contribution and sacrifices made by people in Hubei and Wuhan, which were hit hardest by the epidemic in the country, the deputies said.
“President Xi’s joining the panel discussion of the Hubei delegation is already an encouragement for Hubei people. I believe the province can and will recover from the epidemic with the support from the central government,” Luo said.