Lawmakers propose changes to infectious disease control law

Chinese lawmakers are mulling over a draft revision for the infectious disease prevention and control law that would improve the country's epidemic surveillance, early warning and reporting system, including forbidding interventions in and providing incentives for early reporting.

The draft was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for further review on Friday. The session will run from Friday to Tuesday.

The draft revision states that a mechanism aimed at boosting incentives and offering liability exemptions for people and facilities who make reports will be established.

Organizations or individuals who report mysterious infectious illnesses of unknown origin or emerging contagious diseases should be given rewards. If their report turns out to be a false alarm, they shall not assume legal liability.

It added that intervention in epidemic reporting is strictly prohibited.

The draft revision also clarifies deadlines and methods for reporting an epidemic. It stressed that infectious disease cases should be reported through the country's online direct reporting system, and that channels for testing facilities and the public to make reports should be streamlined.

The draft amendments also propose implementing comprehensive surveillance that joins the efforts of multiple government departments, and deploying smart and multi-point trigger tools to promptly detect potential new outbreaks.

China's law on infectious disease prevention and control was first published and took effect in 1989, drawing from experiences in handling the hepatitis A epidemic in Shanghai.

A major round of amendments was made in 2004 after the outbreak of SARS in 2003, and partial revisions were made in 2013.

Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the National Health Commission and head of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, said that the existing law has played an important and effective role in reining in contagious illnesses and safeguarding the health and safety of people.

"However, the COVID-19 epidemic has also exposed shortcomings and weaknesses in current legal systems regarding statutes on epidemic surveillance and early warning, handling and treatment of major epidemics and provision of emergency materials," he said.

"Efforts are to improve weaknesses and make up for loopholes, and elevate some effective practices seen during the COVID-19 epidemic into legal clauses to strengthen the legal system for public health," he said while explaining the legal document to lawmakers on Friday.

In addition to strengthening surveillance, early warning and reporting systems for infectious diseases, Wang said that draft revisions also propose stepping up medical treatment systems, financial support, and supply of emergency materials and drugs amid health emergencies.