China has decided to allot 3.5 billion yuan (some US$421.7 million)
to establish a nationwide public health network this year in an
effort to deal with public health emergencies.
Vice-Premier Wu Yi made the remarks in Beijing Friday while
delivering a work report on the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) epidemic to the nation's top legislature Friday afternoon on
behalf of the State Council, or the Chinese central government.
The State Council has decided to input 2.1 billion yuan (around
US$253 million) to set up a disease prevention and control network
in support of mid-western China following last year's investment of
800 million yuan (US$96 million), she said.
Localities in eastern China are required to build the relevant
institutions with their own funding, Wu said.
In
addition, she noted, China will earmark 600 million yuan (US$72
million) as a special fund for the first-phase construction project
of the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Moreover, China would set up a national public health command
mechanism and strengthen its disease surveillance, information and
lab diagnosis networks in order to improve its capability to handle
disease outbreaks.
In
view of the current SARS epidemic, China has set aside two billion
yuan (US$240 million) to provide emergency medical services for
needy SARS victims in rural and urban areas, and for the western
and central provinces' purchase and reconstruction of medical
facilities.
In
the meantime, the State Council is also requiring local governments
to arrange special funds for SARS medical control and treatment.
The central government will also put aside 20 million yuan (US$2.4
million) for conducting joint scientific research projects on SARS
disease.
(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2003)