Govt to plug holes in public health emergency response system

China will strengthen the building of public health emergency response system as the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed flaws in the country's medical and public health system, senior health official said on Sunday.

Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission, said the COVID-19 pandemic is a major test to China's public health and medical system and the fight against the pandemic has proven the country's medical system and public health emergency response system have been effective in containing the pandemic.

The country will improve the investment mechanism on public health system, so that it will be in a better situation to handle disease prevention and control, he said.

Different levels of disease prevention and control centers will have a clearer definition of their functions, with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention making the final decision on scientific research, testing, guidance and pathogenic analysis on epidemic diseases, Ma said at a news conference at the State Council Information Office.

Disease prevention and control centers and hospitals should have better sharing of personnel, information and resources, he said.

The country will also improve the online reporting system on epidemic diseases and the reporting system on public health incidents, he said

"Moreover, we will also further improve the reporting and warning system of major public health incidents by building public opinion monitoring system, reporting system by medical workers and reporting system on scientific findings," he said.

There will also be new policies in cultivating more talents in public health and improving their treatment, especially talents in pathogenic detection, epidemiological investigation, laboratory testing and analysis on epidemic situation, he added.