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| China to allot 3.5 billion RMB on public health network |
| CCTV.COM 2003-04-26 09:04:12 |
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 Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi has delivered a work report on SARS prevention and control to the nation's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress. She said China had decided to allot 3.5 billion yuan to establish a nationwide public health network this year. The lawmakers put the SARS issue top of their agenda as they convened in Beijing on Friday for their bi－monthly session.
Vice Premier Wu Yi, also the head of the government's special anti－SARS team, detailed what the government has done so far to combat the fatal disease. The vice premier told a hundred fifty of China's top legislators that the central government has prioritized SARS prevention and treatment, sparing no effort in safeguarding people's lives. She said that since January, special working teams and regulations have been put in place, stricter rules to avoid false SARS figures have been imposed and China has actively co－operated with international organizations, other disease－hit countries and regions.
Wu Yi said: "In order to accelerate the infrastructure construction of disease prevent and control, the State Council has added 900 million yuan into the 1.2 billion planned input. This extra input will support the establishment of disease control institutions in the country's central and western areas."
Wu Yi also paid tribute to the medical experts who are doing their best to research the disease, making some progress in the research of quick diagnosis methods and looking for medicines to resist the virus.
Despite all these efforts, she admitted that the situation is still grim and challenging. The vice premier said that this Saturday the state council will dispatch its fourth inspection teams to check up on the work being done in some 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Adding that poor and vulnerable areas will be emphasized in the next phase of government work.
Wu Yi stressed: "The central government will strengthen its support to the efforts to prevent SARS in central and western areas and rural areas. State Council has required relevant departments to lay down detailed work plans to ensure the basic medical facilities and allocation of medical staffs and other resources."
She also promised that sufficient medicines, facilities and daily necessities will be provided to disaster－stricken areas. After the session, lawmakers entered into group discussions on the work report.
Increasing SARS cases are posing a formidable challenge to the country. The government departments have the power to take immediate action, which they've been doing. As for the new legislature, they may not come up with anything at the moment, but they are fully aware that today's crisis will help them shape future policy.
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Editor: Zhao Xuan CCTV.com
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Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi has delivered a work report on SARS prevention and control to the nation's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress. She said China had decided to allot 3.5 billion yuan to establish a nationwide public health network this year. The lawmakers put the SARS issue top of their agenda as they convened in Beijing on Friday for their bi－monthly session.