The Information Office of the State Council held a regular briefing on the policies of the State Council at 2 p.m. on December 28, 2023 (Thursday), inviting Wang Hesheng, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuang Ning, Deputy Director of the Department of Physical Reform of the National Health Commission, Zhang Guoxin, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National CDC, and Li Zhengmao, Director of the Department of Planning, Finance and Regulation of the National CDC, to introduce the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Disease Prevention and Control" and answer questions from reporters.
Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Information Bureau of the Information Office of the State Council
Xing Huina
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular policy briefing of the State Council. Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Disease Prevention and Control", and at today's briefing, we invited Mr. Wang Hesheng, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, to introduce the relevant situation and answer your questions. Also present at today's briefing were Mr. Zhuang Ning, Head of the Department of Institutional Reform of the National Health Commission, Mr. Zhang Guoxin, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National CDC, and Mr. Li Zhengmao, Director of the Department of Planning, Finance and Regulations of the National CDC.
Next, we would like to invite Mr. Wang Hesheng to introduce the situation.
Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Wang Hesheng
Thank you, moderator. First of all, on behalf of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, I would like to thank you for your concern and support for the development of the cause of disease control. Today, I am very pleased to be here to introduce to you the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Disease Prevention and Control".
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have always attached great importance to disease prevention and control. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that the disease prevention and control system is an important guarantee for protecting people's health, ensuring public health safety, and maintaining economic and social stability.
General Secretary Xi Jinping personally investigated the disease control work, presided over a symposium of experts and scholars, reviewed the reform plan, and emphasized the need for overall planning, system remodeling, comprehensive improvement, and reform and improvement of the disease prevention and control system. In order to thoroughly implement the spirit of the General Secretary's important instructions and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the National Health Commission, the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, together with the Central Planning Office, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other departments, drafted the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-quality Development of Disease Prevention and Control", which was deliberated and adopted by the executive meeting of the State Council on December 18 and issued and implemented by the General Office of the State Council on December 25. This is an important programmatic document to promote the modernization of the disease control system in the new era, which depicts the blueprint and vision for the development of disease control and control, and is of great significance for building a strong public health system and promoting the realization of the grand goal of a healthy China. The main content of the "Guiding Opinions" can be summarized into four aspects: reshaping the system, improving the mechanism, improving the capacity, and building a strong team.
The first is to reshape the system and highlight the concept of "great disease control". It is required to strengthen the core functions of disease control institutions at all levels, emphasize the need to consolidate the public health responsibilities of medical institutions, consolidate the foundation of disease control work of joint prevention and control, mass prevention and control, and build a disease control system with disease control institutions and various specialized disease prevention and control institutions as the backbone, medical institutions as the backbone, and grassroots medical and health institutions as the bottom of the network, military and civilian integration, prevention and control, and coordination of the whole society, which is the concrete embodiment of "co-construction and sharing" of a healthy China.
The second is to improve the mechanism and highlight the coordination and linkage. From a longitudinal point of view, it emphasizes the differentiation of the functions undertaken by disease control institutions at different levels, the linkage and work coordination of the disease control system, and the business leadership of higher-level disease control institutions over lower-level disease control institutions. From a horizontal point of view, it emphasizes the coordination and integration of medical prevention and prevention within the health and disease control system, as well as the close cooperation and information sharing between the system and relevant departments and institutions in monitoring and early warning.
The third is to improve the ability and highlight the system integration. The goal is to achieve early detection and early treatment of emerging infectious diseases and effectively curb the epidemic of traditional major infectious diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis by accelerating the establishment of an intelligent multi-point trigger monitoring and early warning system, a major epidemic prevention and control system, and a major infectious disease prevention and control system.
Fourth, build a strong team and highlight people-oriented. It is emphasized that the cooperation between universities and disease control institutions should be strengthened, and a clear application-oriented orientation should be established from the beginning of talent training. It is required to improve and improve the talent use and evaluation system in line with the characteristics of disease control work, adhere to hierarchical and categorical evaluation, and focus on assessing work performance. It is clarified that while fully implementing the financial guarantee policy, the public health technical services provided by disease control institutions to the society should be standardized, and relevant scientific research incentive policies should be implemented. The introduction of these policies will more effectively stimulate the vitality of the talent team.
The above is the relevant situation of the "Guiding Opinions". Now, my colleagues and I are ready to answer your questions. Thank you!
Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Information Bureau of the Information Office of the State Council
Xing Huina
You are now welcome to ask questions, and please let your news organization know before you ask questions.
CCTV reporter from China Central Radio and Television
Disease control work is closely related to the people's health and well-being, what remarkable results has the mainland achieved in disease control work over the past few years, and what important role has this played in promoting people's health?
Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Wang Hesheng
Thank you for your question, I'm here to answer that. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we have always adhered to the people-centered concept, improved the multi-departmental coordination mechanism, improved the ability of disease prevention and control, implemented comprehensive prevention and control measures for infectious diseases, and brought the development of disease control to a new level.
The first is to increase investment and improve the service conditions of the disease control system. The central and local governments have continuously improved the stable investment mechanism for disease control work. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has actively optimized the investment structure of the central budget, with a total allocation of 13.1 billion yuan to support the construction of disease control systems at the national, provincial, municipal and county levels. In 2023, the central government will allocate 17.687 billion yuan for disease control projects through transfer payments for the prevention and control of major infectious diseases and endemic diseases.
The second is to take multiple measures at the same time, and the quality and efficiency of disease prevention and control services have been improved. The average reporting time of the mainland infectious disease network direct reporting system has been shortened from 5 days to 4 hours. At the national level, a technical system has been established to quickly identify 300 pathogens within 72 hours, and 100% of provincial and 90% municipal centers for disease control and prevention have the capacity for nucleic acid testing and virus isolation. The National Health Emergency Response Team covers all provinces. The vaccination rate of the immunization program has remained above 90%, and the accessibility and convenience of immunization services have been continuously improved through reasonable distribution, online appointments, and door-to-door services.
The third is to make concerted efforts to consolidate the foundation of the disease control system. Party committees and governments at all levels attach great importance to the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The relevant departments have a clear division of labor, each has its own responsibilities, and joint prevention and control. The people's awareness of health and disease prevention has been greatly improved, and the concept of "everyone is the first person responsible for their own health" is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
The mainland has achieved remarkable results in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, and the public health protection network has been further strengthened. In the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases, decisive victories have been achieved in the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic, and the epidemics of infectious diseases such as human avian influenza, plague and Middle East respiratory syndrome have been effectively handled, and there has been no major epidemic after the major natural disasters. In terms of the prevention and control of major infectious diseases, the rapid rise of the AIDS epidemic in key areas has been effectively curbed and the overall epidemic level has been controlled at a low level, the incidence of tuberculosis has decreased from 65 per 100,000 in 2015 to 52 per 100,000 in 2022, and the mortality rate has remained at a low level. A nationwide environmental health monitoring system has been established, and the level of prevention and control of endemic diseases has been continuously consolidated and improved. Certified by the World Health Organization for malaria elimination. The incidence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases such as measles, JE and encephalitis has fallen to an all-time low. Thank you.
Red Star News reporter
After the new crown epidemic, what changes have been made to the monitoring and reporting system for infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies in the mainland? How can we ensure that the outbreak of infectious diseases can be detected in a timely manner and accurately reported as soon as possible? Thank you.
Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Zhang Guoxin
Thank you for your question. Monitoring and early warning is the first threshold to effectively prevent and resolve the risk of major infectious diseases. At present, the mainland has established an online direct reporting system for notifiable infectious diseases and public health emergencies, covering 84,000 medical and health institutions across the country, and has carried out active surveillance of key infectious diseases such as plague, polio, malaria and influenza all year round. In particular, in the face of the new crown epidemic and acute respiratory diseases, we have expanded and formed 10 monitoring subsystems including sentinel hospital monitoring, virus mutation monitoring, and urban sewage monitoring, carried out a pilot project for multi-pathogen monitoring of acute respiratory diseases, and set up four types of risk signals, scientifically studied and judged the monitoring results, and reported and released early warning information in a timely manner, so as to provide strong technical support for effective epidemic prevention and control.
In the "Guiding Opinions" issued this time, it is emphasized that the monitoring and early warning capabilities need to be improved. We will comprehensively promote the construction of an intelligent multi-point trigger infectious disease monitoring and early warning system as required, focusing on four aspects.
The first is to improve the system and mechanism. Establish and improve systems for monitoring, risk assessment, and early warning of infectious diseases, clarify the work responsibilities of relevant departments and the operational responsibilities of disease control institutions and medical institutions, and further improve working mechanisms such as multi-departmental information sharing and consultation, medical prevention coordination, and peaceful emergency conversion.
The second is to expand monitoring channels. On the basis of optimizing the existing epidemic monitoring and reporting system, improve the monitoring system for clinical symptoms, pathogenic microorganisms, vectors and environmental factors of infectious diseases, build a coordinated monitoring system between departments, smooth the channels for public participation, pay close attention to the changes in the global epidemic situation of infectious diseases, and carry out monitoring work from multiple sources.
The third is to standardize assessment and early warning. Improve the workflow for risk assessment, warning information notification and early warning decision-making, carry out routine and thematic risk assessments, promptly report and publish epidemic information and health risk reminders, and put forward early warning decision-making suggestions in a timely manner.
Fourth, improve professional ability. Strengthen the construction of professional personnel, and accelerate the improvement of laboratory pathogenic microorganism detection, genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis capabilities. Establish and improve the information platform for monitoring, early warning and emergency command of infectious diseases, promote the intelligent application of a new generation of information technology, gradually realize the automatic collection, processing, analysis and early warning of monitoring data, and continuously improve the ability of comprehensive research and judgment. Thank you.
Poster News Reporter
In terms of focusing on improving the level of disease prevention and treatment in primary medical and health institutions, promoting the contracted service of family doctors, and building a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment pattern, what work do we have to consider in the next step?
Head of the Department of Institutional Reform of the National Health Commission
Zhuang Ning
Thank you for your question. Grassroots medical and health institutions are the bottom of both basic medical services and public health services, and strengthening the grassroots has always been the top priority of the mainland's health work. By the end of 2022, there were nearly 980,000 primary medical and health institutions of various types across the country, with more than 4.5 million health personnel.
In the next step, we will continue to implement the requirements of the health policy of "focusing on the grassroots" in the new era, take multiple measures at the same time, improve the service capacity of the grassroots in an all-round way, and promote the acceleration of the construction of an orderly hierarchical diagnosis and treatment pattern. There are four aspects of work to consider.
First, strong ability. We will continue to implement the "Quality Service at the Grassroots Level" campaign and the construction of community hospitals, guide all localities to further strengthen the construction of facilities and equipment for grassroots institutions, strengthen staffing and training, and improve the capacity of traditional Chinese medicine, medical emergency, infectious disease response and pediatric services, and strive to increase the proportion of township health centers and community health service centers that meet the service capacity standards to more than 90% by 2025.
The second is to raise standards. Select and build a number of central township health centers, study and formulate reference standards, and guide all localities to rely on township health centers that have reached the recommended standards for service capacity, focusing on strengthening the construction of infrastructure, talent teams, emergency first aid, clinical specialties, special departments, equipment allocation, inpatient beds, etc., and gradually reach the service capacity of secondary hospitals.
The third is to promote sinking. Promote the sinking of urban medical resources to county-level hospitals and urban and rural grassroots, relying on urban medical groups, specialty alliances, county-level medical communities, etc., through counterpart assistance, "group" support and assistance, as well as the establishment of joint outpatient clinics, joint wards, expert studios, and personnel stationing, establish and improve the working mechanism of tertiary hospitals in Bao County, secondary hospitals in Bao Township, and township health centers in Bao Village, so as to consolidate hierarchical diagnosis and treatment.
The fourth is to sign a "family doctor". Promote the high-quality development of contracted services for family doctors, and promote the realization of the "six expansions", that is, from general practice to specialty, from grassroots institutions to doctors from hospitals above the second level, team services to individual contracts, and mainly to manage chronic diseases to chronic diseases and infectious diseases. We will further tap existing resources, unleash service supply capacity, and steadily increase coverage on the basis of ensuring effective performance of the contract, so that the broad masses can benefit. Thank you.
Cover News Reporter
Focusing on the high-quality development of disease control, what goals does the "Guiding Opinions" put forward for the construction of the disease control system?
Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Wang Hesheng
Thank you for your question, I'll answer that question. The "Guiding Opinions" issued by us this time, in accordance with the general requirements of "overall planning, system remodeling, and comprehensive improvement" put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, focus on clarifying responsibilities, building mechanisms, and improving capabilities. The future goal of disease control outlined in the "Guiding Opinions" is to build a disease control system with disease control institutions and various specialized disease prevention and control institutions as the backbone, medical institutions as the backbone, and grassroots medical and health institutions as the bottom of the network, military and civilian integration, prevention and control, and the coordination of the whole society, so as to form a disease control work network that is horizontal to the edge and vertical to the end. Such a disease control system should be able to effectively undertake the historical responsibility of comprehensively implementing the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, effectively responding to major infectious diseases and public health emergencies, serving and supporting the construction of a healthy China, and meeting the needs of national public security. In order to achieve this goal, we must strive to create a new situation in the cause of disease control.
First, the system is sound and the mechanism is smooth. Adhere to the management system of centralized and unified leadership of the Party over infectious diseases and other disease control work. Improve multi-departmental, cross-regional, and military-civilian joint prevention and control mechanisms.
Second, the rights and responsibilities are clear and the functions are perfect. Implement the responsibilities of the four parties, including territories, departments, units and individuals. All levels and types of medical and health institutions are to perform their duties for disease control work in accordance with law. Key institutions such as schools, childcare institutions, and elderly care institutions should strengthen their efforts and do a good job in disease control. Encourage and support the participation of grassroots communities and social forces, and weave a dense network of urban and rural grassroots disease control.
The third is efficient operation and collaborative linkage. On the one hand, strengthen the business leadership and work coordination, supervision, inspection, and evaluation of lower-level disease control institutions by higher-level disease control institutions. On the other hand, it is necessary to strengthen the coordination of medical prevention and promote the integration of personnel, information, resources and services, strengthen the linkage monitoring, information sharing and coordinated prevention and control of departments and institutions, and encourage disease control institutions and universities and scientific research institutes to realize the docking of production, learning and research, and share scientific and technological platforms and resources.
Fourth, strong support and strengthened support. Implement the responsibility of governments at all levels to ensure investment, and strengthen the support of the rule of law, talent, scientific research, and informatization.
Reporter from China Daily
Recently, the World Health Organization said that the JN.1 variant of the new coronavirus is spreading rapidly, and decided to list JN.1 as a variant of concern. As of the 10th of this month, 7 cases of JN.1 have been detected in China, how will the related diseases be prevented and controlled, and will this strain pose too much threat to China's public health?
Director of the Department of Planning, Finance and Regulation, National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Lee Jeong-mao
Thank you for your question. We have been continuously monitoring the new crown epidemic to dynamically grasp the epidemic trend and virus mutation situation in China, and we are also paying attention to the changes in the global epidemic. Recently, the proportion of JN.1 variants has risen rapidly in the world and has become the main epidemic strain, and the epidemic situation in some countries has increased significantly. Monitoring shows that the current new crown epidemic in mainland China is at a low level, the local epidemic strain is still the EG.5 variant, and the proportion of the JN.1 variant is still relatively low, but it is also on the rise. A total of 490 sequences of JN.1 variants were reported in China, including 443 sequences of imported cases, accounting for 90%, and 47 sequences of local cases.
The available evidence shows that the JN.1 variant has enhanced immune evasion and transmissibility, but its pathogenicity has not been enhanced, and that previous infection and vaccination with vaccines containing XBB components have the effect of immune cross-protection, and specific antiviral drugs are still effective.
Experts believe that this winter and next spring, the mainland will continue to show a trend of alternating or common epidemics of various respiratory diseases. Affected by multiple factors such as the continuous importation of foreign JN.1 variants and the large flow of people around the Spring Festival, the JN.1 variant may develop into the dominant epidemic strain of the new coronavirus in China, which will promote the rise of the new crown epidemic, increase the risk of severe death of vulnerable groups such as the elderly and patients with underlying diseases, and may put some pressure on the rural medical service system with relatively weak treatment capacity. We must attach great importance to it, make careful arrangements, and make preparations in all aspects.
We will continue to do a good job in the prevention of COVID-19 and multiple diseases, continue to pay attention to the dynamic changes of the international epidemic and epidemic strains, strengthen epidemic monitoring and early warning, and promote the vaccination of high-risk groups with XBB containing XBB vaccines for the elderly and patients with chronic underlying diseases, so as to reduce the risk of severe disease and death after infection. At the same time, with a focus on rural areas, we should make good preparations for the response of medical resources, and strengthen the management of hierarchical and categorical treatment of infected persons.
With the New Year's Day and the Spring Festival approaching, the flow of people and gathering activities will increase, which may increase the risk of the spread of infectious diseases. It is recommended that everyone continue to maintain good Xi habits such as frequent ventilation, frequent hand washing, and social distancing, and scientifically wear masks when taking public transportation or going to crowd gathering places; the elderly, patients with severe chronic underlying diseases, pregnant women, etc., try to minimize going to crowd gathering places; patients with respiratory infectious diseases or people with related symptoms are advised to postpone travel and avoid going to crowd gathering places. Thank you.
Reporter of Science and Technology Daily
The "Guiding Opinions" require that the scientific research support and technical support capabilities of disease control institutions be strengthened. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the provincial centers for disease control and prevention should add the brand of preventive medical colleges, what changes will this bring to the current disease control departments? How to strengthen scientific research support and technical support capabilities? Thank you.
Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Zhang Guoxin
Thank you for your question. As we all know, to defeat the virus and the epidemic, it is inseparable from the support of science and technology, looking back on the prevention and control process of the new crown epidemic in the mainland, the first completion of the new crown virus isolation and genome sequencing, the efficient development of vaccines, testing reagents and drug research and development, and the wide application of big data technology and artificial intelligence methods in the flow survey, etc., which have provided us with strong scientific and technological support for efficient control of the epidemic. The "Guiding Opinions" put forward that the national and provincial centers for disease control and prevention will add the brand of the Academy of Preventive Medicine to strengthen scientific research support and technical support capabilities, which will certainly help further stimulate the vitality of scientific and technological innovation in the field of disease control. In the next step, we will comprehensively strengthen scientific research and promote the high-quality development of the scientific research support system for disease control from the four aspects of "improving the system, building the platform, improving the capacity, and strengthening the research".
The first is to speed up the improvement of the scientific research system for disease prevention and control that combines research and application, and integrates medical treatment and prevention. Give full play to the leading role of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine and the backbone of the provincial Academy of Preventive Medicine, strengthen scientific research cooperation with scientific research institutes and universities, and improve the scientific research capacity of centers for disease control and prevention at all levels and medical institutions for infectious diseases.
The second is to build a scientific research and innovation platform for disease prevention and control with hierarchical construction and dislocation development. Strengthen the layout of scientific research platforms such as key laboratories in the field of disease control, and build a network of innovation platforms for disease prevention and control at the national, ministerial and provincial levels, in which key laboratories complement each other, effectively linkage, and cooperate closely.
The third is to comprehensively improve innovation ability and scientific research management ability. Facing the major national strategic needs in the field of disease control, cultivate strategic scientific and technological talents and scientific and technological innovation talents, strengthen the construction of scientific research management teams in the field of disease control, and allocate and strengthen scientific research management staff.
Fourth, we will continue to strengthen scientific and technological research and achievement transformation in the field of disease control. Concentrate superior resources and strength, focus on solving the problem of "bottleneck" in key technologies of basic research and application practice in the prevention and control of major diseases, open up the channel for the transformation and application of scientific research achievements, and form a new situation of orderly development of "production, education, research and application" in the field of disease control.
Zhejiang Daily Chao News reporter
The document proposes to improve the ability to treat infectious diseases. May I ask, what is the current situation of the mainland's ability to treat infectious diseases, and what are the plans for the next step? Thank you.
Head of the Department of Institutional Reform of the National Health Commission
Zhuang Ning
Thank you for your question. In terms of improving the treatment capacity of infectious diseases, in recent years, the National Health Commission has continuously promoted the construction of major epidemic treatment capacity and continuously improved the level of treatment of infectious diseases. Below, I will introduce four aspects of work.
First, the ability to provide medical treatment for the transition from normal to emergency has been continuously strengthened. Through the rapid expansion of medical resources, the strengthening of overall planning and regional coordination, the daily medical and health service system will be transformed into a major epidemic emergency medical treatment system. The rate of fever clinics set up by primary medical and health institutions and hospitals above the second level has exceeded 98%, and it has basically been realized that all fever clinics should be set up and opened. All localities are required to strengthen the expansion of intensive care beds in secondary and tertiary hospitals and equip them with corresponding equipment, and carry out mixed grouping, echelon formation, and unified scheduling of medical personnel in accordance with the needs of clinical treatment.
Second, the medical treatment system of hierarchical and hierarchical diversion has been continuously improved. Relying on the three-level network of urban and rural medical services, and taking the grid layout of medical alliances covering urban and rural residents as the carrier, we will improve the hierarchical medical treatment system of urban and rural integration, systematic continuity, classified treatment, and efficient referral. Improve counterpart support for urban and rural hospitals, and smooth the two-way referral mechanism. In rural areas, give full play to the positive role of county-level medical communities and telemedicine. Medical institutions also actively provide Internet diagnosis and treatment services to meet the needs of the masses for medical treatment.
Third, the homogeneous and standardized medical treatment system has been continuously standardized. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, the central government has invested 85 million yuan to support the construction of national key clinical specialties in 22 infectious diseases-related specialties across the country. Research and formulate diagnosis and treatment plans related to some notifiable infectious diseases such as plague, cholera, anthrax, and bacillary dysentery, continuously strengthen the training of medical personnel in diagnosis and treatment knowledge and skills, and improve the ability to standardize and homogeneously diagnose and treat infectious diseases.
Fourth, the ability to respond to multiple diseases with the same prevention and treatment has been continuously enhanced. In view of the complex situation of multiple infectious diseases intertwined and superimposed, adhere to the common prevention and treatment of multiple diseases, guide all localities to coordinate and dispatch medical resources, and make every effort to do a good job in the medical treatment of infectious diseases such as new crown, influenza, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Strengthen the overall allocation of medical resources within and between medical institutions in medical institutions, increase the number of relevant clinics and treatment areas, strengthen the deployment of medical personnel, extend the reception time, and improve service capacity.
In the next step, we will further strengthen the bottom-line thinking, thoroughly summarize the experience and practices of epidemic prevention and control, strengthen the construction of major epidemic prevention and control and treatment systems, and continuously improve the capacity of public health and medical services. At the same time, in conjunction with relevant state departments, in response to major infectious diseases such as the respiratory system, relying on existing resources in some provincial capitals, we will lay out and build a number of national bases for the prevention and treatment of major infectious diseases, and accelerate the improvement of the ability to centralize the treatment of severe and critically ill patients with major infectious diseases and provide cross-regional assistance, so as to effectively respond to all kinds of sudden epidemics and effectively protect the lives and health of the people.
Jimu News reporter
We note that the Guiding Opinions mention that it is necessary to improve emergency response capabilities and build a hierarchical and efficient emergency response plan system for infectious diseases. My question is, what results has the mainland achieved in dealing with the epidemic of infectious diseases so far, and what specific measures will be taken in the future?
Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Zhang Guoxin
Thank you for your question. Over the years, through the efforts of all parties, the relevant laws, regulations and policy systems for emergency response to infectious disease epidemics in mainland China have been continuously improved, and the emergency management system and mechanism have been continuously optimized. With the support of finance and other departments, relying on the national and provincial centers for disease control and prevention, 20 national emergency prevention and control teams have been established, and it should be said that the on-site emergency response capacity has been continuously improved over the years.
In the next step, we will conscientiously implement the requirements of the "Guiding Opinions", start from three aspects, further strengthen daily preparedness, and improve the emergency response capacity of major epidemics.
In terms of the plan system, according to the new situation, new changes and new requirements, we will constantly improve the existing plan, revise the revision, and formulate the formulation. At the same time, we will further guide all localities to formulate and revise hierarchical and categorical emergency plans, strengthen the management of emergency plans, and build an effective and functional emergency plan system.
In terms of team building, we will continue to promote the construction of national teams, achieve full coverage of all provinces as soon as possible, support all cities and counties in the country to build emergency response teams for infectious diseases, and further strengthen the professional capacity of emergency response at the grassroots level.
In terms of emergency drills, in view of emerging infectious diseases and mass diseases of unknown causes, efforts are made to organize and carry out emergency drills for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the whole chain and all elements, and through the drills, we can further test the plan, improve the preparation, train the team, and run in the mechanism, so as to effectively improve the emergency response capacity of major infectious epidemics. In addition, we will also put forward suggestions on the demand for emergency material reserves and material support in a timely manner according to the results of epidemic research and judgment and the needs of emergency response, and actively cooperate with the leading departments of emergency material reserves in accordance with our responsibilities to further improve the level of emergency material support for infectious diseases in the mainland. Thank you.
Reporter of China News Service
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to innovate the mechanism of medical and prevention coordination and medical and prevention integration. What has been done and what are the priorities for the next steps? Thank you.
Director of the Department of Planning, Finance and Regulation, National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Lee Jeong-mao
Thank you for your question. Innovating the mechanism of medical and prevention coordination and integration of medical treatment and prevention is a major topic in the field of health and disease control, and it is of great significance to promote the high-quality development of disease control. We actively plan and focus on the following five aspects:
The first is to strengthen collaborative monitoring. Intensify efforts to promote the coordination of disease control institutions and medical institutions in the monitoring and early warning of infectious diseases, promote the effective docking of infectious disease-related data between the information systems of medical institutions and the disease control information system, and improve the ability to detect epidemics early.
The second is to strengthen collaborative research and judgment. Strengthen the cooperation between disease control institutions and medical institutions in the study and assessment of the epidemic situation, deepen the understanding of the characteristics of the disease and the law of the epidemic, improve the ability to comprehensively analyze the epidemic, scientifically and accurately study and judge the epidemic situation, and release relevant information in a timely manner.
The third is to strengthen collaborative disposal. In the response and handling of epidemiological investigations, sources of infection and risk groups, we should strengthen the coordination and cooperation of disease control institutions and medical institutions, respond quickly and deal with them, and effectively prevent the spread of the epidemic.
Fourth, strengthen the implementation of responsibilities. We have carried out pilot work on the disease control supervisor system in nine provinces to strengthen the internal and external supervision of disease prevention and control in medical institutions. Not long ago, a list of responsibilities for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in medical institutions was also issued. In the next step, we will continue to promote medical institutions to implement their responsibilities for disease control and improve their ability to detect, report and deal with infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies early. At the same time, strengthen the management of infectious disease medical institutions, and give full play to their role as a new force in promoting the integration of medical treatment and prevention.
Fifth, strengthen personnel training. Establish a cross-training system for public health professional and technical personnel and clinicians in medical institutions, strengthen the training of clinical medical personnel on knowledge and skills related to disease control and public health personnel, and encourage the two-way flow of personnel. Explore and carry out pilot projects on public health physicians' prescribing rights, and actively promote the introduction of relevant management measures.
Reporter of Changjiang Daily
I heard that the CDC supervisor system has been piloted in many places, and I would like to ask how this work is progressing, and what results have been achieved so far.
Director of the Department of Planning, Finance and Regulation, National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Lee Jeong-mao
Thank you for your question. Exploring the establishment of a disease control supervisor system is a major institutional innovation to deepen the integration of medical treatment and prevention. In August this year, the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, together with the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, launched a pilot project of the disease control supervisor system in medical institutions in nine provinces. Through the establishment of full-time and part-time disease control supervisors in public hospitals, primary medical and health institutions, and socially-run hospitals, supervise the development of disease prevention and control work, and supervise the implementation of reporting responsibilities for infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. Judging from the current situation, the pilot work has been smooth and positive progress has been made.
First, the working mechanism has been continuously improved. The departments of disease control, health and traditional Chinese medicine in the pilot provinces have worked together to set up a leading group for the pilot work to promote the pilot work in an orderly manner. A total of 861 full-time disease control supervisors and 3,484 part-time disease control supervisors have been selected in the 49 pilot cities, and more than 1,200 medical institutions have been stationed to carry out their work. Among them, Zhejiang Province and Gansu Province have carried out the pilot work in the whole region.
Second, the form of work has been continuously improved. Pilot areas should adapt measures to local conditions, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties, continuously expand personnel selection channels, and explore and optimize the number and combination of personnel. Shanghai has explored the comprehensive dispatch of medical complexes, and has adopted a variety of stationing methods such as "on-site supervision + roving supervision" and shard-grouping circular supervision. Zhejiang Province has carried out the comprehensive dispatch of county-level medical communities. Guangdong Province has set up a "Disease Prevention and Control Supervision and Inspection Team" to implement a "many-to-many" dispatch method for urban medical groups and county-level medical communities. Shaanxi Province has explored the implementation of "overall scheduling, centralized inspection, and fixed-point responsibility" for full-time disease control supervisors.
Third, the management model has been continuously improved. In light of the actual situation, the pilot provinces have refined personnel selection, daily management, work processes, training and assessment, formulated supporting documents, compiled work manuals, and promoted the institutionalization, standardization and proceduralization of the work of disease control supervisors. In accordance with the principle of "using a batch and reserving a batch", Sichuan Province has set up a talent pool of disease control supervisors in medical institutions to ensure a sustainable supply of talents. Hubei Province has improved the pilot work process by integrating expert opinions from clinical, laboratory, hospital infection, disease control, health supervision, information and other aspects.
In the next step, we will summarize the pilot experience in a timely manner, further expand the scope of the pilot, continuously strengthen the top-level design and systematic planning, refine and implement relevant measures, actively promote the establishment of the disease control supervisor system, and effectively strengthen the supervision of the implementation of disease control work in medical institutions. Thank you.
Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Information Bureau of the Information Office of the State Council
Xing Huina
One last question.
Reporter of China Youth Daily
The high-quality development of disease prevention and control in mainland China is inseparable from a high-quality talent team. At present, the mechanism for the training and use of public health personnel in mainland China has been initially established, but there are still some shortcomings. What are the new considerations for optimizing the training and use of public health personnel?
Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention
Wang Hesheng
Thank you for your question, and the last question will be answered by me. The National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention attaches great importance to the construction of talent teams, and we have just set up a leading group for talent work to promote the construction of high-level public health schools across the country, set up a public health talent training support project, and cultivate and support 20 high-level and high-level talents every year. At the national and provincial CDCs, we have also implemented a chief expert system, increasing the proportion of senior professional and technical positions in the CDC from 37% to 55%. Recently, we have also convened a national conference on disease control talents, which further clarified our work ideas.
In terms of personnel training, the focus is on establishing a training system. Promote college education, continue to do a good job in the construction of high-level public health schools, and include public health and preventive medicine related disciplines in the "National Strategic Talent Reserve Enrollment Plan for Key Fields". To promote post-graduation education, on the basis of pilot projects, we will improve and vigorously promote the standardized training of public health physicians, and strengthen the training of public health personnel in clinical related knowledge. To promote continuing education, we will rely on institutions of higher learning and scientific research institutions to train professional and technical personnel at or above the intermediate level of disease control institutions at all levels.
In terms of the use of talents, the focus is on the establishment of a management mechanism. By establishing a trust mechanism, we will improve the system of combining the free exploration of talents with organized scientific research, encourage innovation, tolerate failure, and control risks to the greatest extent. Through the establishment of an emergency research mechanism, the implementation of the use of talents in the emergency state, the implementation of the goal-oriented "military order" system. Through the establishment of an exchange and training mechanism, promote the two-way flow of public health professional and technical personnel and clinicians in medical and health institutions, and comprehensively use methods such as temporary training, doctoral service groups, and fixed-point assistance to guide the flow of disease control talents to difficult and remote areas and grassroots front-line areas.
In terms of talent evaluation, the focus is on establishing an evaluation system that is in line with the characteristics of disease control work. Highlight work performance, improve professional title evaluation standards, and adhere to hierarchical and categorical evaluation. Highlight the orientation of the grassroots level, and implement the total number of professional and technical senior posts for the grassroots disease control institutions, and the proportion is separately listed. Highlight the professional classification, on the basis of the original professional classification, establish and improve the health engineering, inspection and testing technology series of professional title promotion channels.
In terms of talent incentives, the focus is on mobilizing enthusiasm. In terms of career development, we will continue to do a good job in public health personnel training support projects and chief experts in different fields, and promote relevant localities to appropriately increase the proportion of middle and senior professional and technical positions in disease control institutions in light of actual conditions. In terms of remuneration and benefits, we will promote all localities to scientifically and reasonably determine the level of performance-based wages in accordance with the requirements of the "two permits", and further improve the treatment of disease control talents, especially scientific research personnel. In terms of social honors, a commendation and reward mechanism will be established to increase the publicity of advanced models.
In short, we will continue to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important instructions and instructions and the spirit of the Central Talent Work Conference, further work hard to improve and improve the policy mechanisms for the training, use, evaluation and incentive of disease control talents, and strive to form a "tens of millions" of disease control talents by 2030, that is, 100 provincial, 1,000 municipal, and 10,000 county-level discipline leaders in key fields, strive to cultivate a high-quality disease control talent team, and lay a solid talent foundation for the high-quality development of disease control.
Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Information Bureau of the Information Office of the State Council
Xing Huina
That's all for today's briefing, thank you to the publishers, and thank you to all the media friends.
Source: Information Office of the State Council
Editor: Fan Tianyu