Public health system to be enhanced

Following the adoption of a newly revised law, China will reinforce its public health system to ensure its improved capacity to tackle infectious diseases, especially those of unknown origin, an official from the country's top legislature said.

The amendment to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress last week.

Comprising 115 articles across nine chapters, the amended law also marks a significant step forward in safeguarding public welfare and bolstering the nation's disease defense mechanism, said Liang Ying from the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

He said the revised law made targeted adjustments to the nation's disease classification while mandating disease control agencies and governments at the grassroots level to strengthen infectious disease prevention.

After the updates, the amended law now categorizes 40 infectious diseases — two as Class A, 27 as Class B and 11 as Class C, according to him.

"Emerging contagious diseases or infectious illnesses of unknown origin must be reported via the country's online direct reporting system," he said while interpreting the revised law, which will take effect on Sept 1.

"If local governments assess the situation and deem it necessary, they can first adopt Class A prevention and control measures," he added.

He highlighted the importance of infectious disease surveillance and early warning systems, noting that the amendment requires the establishment of an epidemic risk assessment mechanism, and also mandates disease control agencies to issue health risk alerts to the public.

Additionally, the amended law places emphasis on strengthening people's livelihood support during epidemic control periods, specifying that governments at all levels should provide daily necessities and basic medical services for residents, with special care to key groups to ensure they can receive medical treatment.

Moreover, it also stipulates that grassroots healthcare institutions should set up dedicated divisions or designate staff members responsible for infectious disease prevention and control management, with efforts in relevant talent education and research.

"The prevention and control of infectious diseases is crucial to the safety of people's lives and their physical health, and it's closely related to every family and everyone," he said, urging more people to study and implement the revised law.

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

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

Responding to new challenges and problems in the sector of public health, the State Council, China's cabinet, proposed revisions to the law in September 2023.

Before the latest review in April and the adoption last week, the NPC Standing Committee reviewed the draft amendment to the law twice, in October 2023 and September 2024.