State pharma firms step in to curb spread of deadly pathogens

State-owned healthcare and pharmaceutical enterprises are stepping up efforts to stem the novel coronavirus outbreak by providing adequate medical supplies, ensuring timely financial assistance and deploying trained medical personnel to work in the severely affected areas.

By the end of Sunday, a total of 17,205 confirmed novel coronavirus infection cases had been reported on the Chinese mainland, with 361 deaths. Over 475 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, since the first infection was diagnosed in Hubei province's capital city Wuhan in December 2019, data from the National Health Commission showed.

"As a central SOE and a part of the backbone of the national-level force against the epidemic, we must shoulder more corporate social responsibility," said Liu Jingzhen, chairman of China National Pharmaceutical Group Co, or Sinopharm, during a recent conversation with employees.

The company is the largest Chinese healthcare company with core businesses spanning distribution and retail of medical products to scientific research and medical manufacturing. It established a special committee on Jan 22 this year to coordinate the related work in tackling the epidemic according to the evolving situation.

Sinopharm has also set aside 1 billion yuan ($144 million) to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading.

From Jan 21 to 30, Sinopharm provided 240,200 sets of protective clothing, 91,400 safety goggles, 18.48 million masks, 20.48 million pairs of gloves, 11.76 million bottles of sterilization products, and 29.76 million packs of medication for national use.

Shanghai GeneoDx Biotech Co Ltd, an affiliate of Sinopharm's subsidiary for vaccine and biological medicine China National Biotech Group Co Ltd, was one of the first three companies in China that has developed novel coronavirus infection test kits. With its expanded production capacity and supply of rapid, accurate and simple test solutions, it can be used on 200,000 people daily.

CNBG is also working around the clock to develop a vaccine for the infection and antivirus medicines, while strengthening supplies of prevention and control products, interferon, and other blood-related products that are in high demand.

The company will continue to make good use of its advantages across the whole industry chain to better arrange production and supply, strengthen research and development, and enhance information exchanges to contribute more to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, Liu said.

China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, or CR Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of China Resources Holdings Co Ltd, has provided more than 550,000 masks, 480,000 boxes of medicines, and 460,000 packs of infusion products for prevention and treatment of the infection. From Jan 1 to Jan 29, its subsidiary China Resources Pharmaceutical Commerce had distributed 1.48 billion yuan worth of medicines, medical devices and protective products nationwide.

Besides, thousands of physicians and nurses affiliated to central SOEs have been working day and night taking care of patients in Hubei province, the center of the epidemic outbreak. Sinopharm has more than 4,000 doctors and nurses working at Hubei province, including a medical team of 13 from other provinces. China National Nuclear Co has deployed three medical teams consisting of 50 doctors and nurses to Hubei province.