Experts call for improved grassroots facilities

Investment

"Many problems at county-level public health institutions have been revealed by the epidemic, including outdated equipment and poor capacity for virus testing and monitoring," Huang said.

"I suggest that financial investment should be increased to ensure the health system at the grassroots is well-equipped."

Wu Hao, another member of the CPPCC National Committee and director of the Fangzhuang Community Health Center in Beijing, said the lower capabilities of local community health centers in Wuhan, Hubei, to provide services meant many patients preferred to visit large hospitals for diagnosis and treatment.

Local patients crowded into a few big hospitals during the initial stages of the coronavirus outbreak in Central China's largest city.

That resulted in some cross-infection and contributed to the city quickly becoming overwhelmed by large numbers of patients in late January and early February, even though Wuhan has many big hospitals, including several leading facilities.

"Rather than continuing to build massive glittering hospitals in big cities, we must empower smaller medical facilities in communities and rural areas so they become scouts for disease outbreaks," Wu said.

"More integration is needed between these medical institutions and local disease control and prevention centers, so they work better together for epidemic control during major health emergencies."

Meanwhile, smaller medical facilities, such as community health centers, should adopt the latest information technology－such as big data－to aid epidemic prevention and control, including the quick and effective tracing of close contacts of patients with infectious diseases, he said.

China has promoted reform of the healthcare system in recent years－including narrowing the gap between grassroots medical facilities and better-equipped larger hospitals.

However, significant progress has not yet been achieved, and consistent efforts are needed, Wu said.