The Beijing Municipal Public Health Bureau has prioritized an investigation and study into regulations for a chief public health officer (CPHO) this year, after which a detailed plan will be worked out.

After the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003, Dong Xiaoping, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, submitted a proposal to carry out a feasibility study on adopting a CPHO system.

In it, he said the outbreak not only revealed that Beijing lagged behind in facilities to deal with an epidemic, but also the absence of a scientific public health system. “Therefore, when massive public health events happen, it is not public health specialists but governmental officers or even leaders who are responsible for taking measures to deal with them,” said Dong.

In developed countries, outbreaks or emergent public health events are announced to the public by public health officers, who can determine relevant measures. In some countries, chief public health officers also have the right to instruct other government departments in dealing with events.

“However in China, this is done by chief executives in health departments or government leaders,” said Dong, adding that it was not credible to see an executive officer addressing the public with medical terminology unfamiliar to him or her when an epidemic as severe as SARS breaks out.

In response to Dong’s proposal, the Municipal Health Bureau decided to put the investigation into CPHO regulations on the top of this year’s working plan.

The study will focus on the qualifications and responsibility of a CPHO and the appointment process, and if there is sufficient demonstration of need, the bureau will submit a plan to the municipal government.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, May 25, 2005)