News > TV News > Noon News   

Hu Jintao highlights need for more public health reforms
   CCTV.COM   2003-07-29 13:07:35   
    President Hu Jintao has called for continued efforts to improve China's public health system. The Chinese leader made the call during a national anti-SARS meeting on Monday. Hu Jintao says China has so far achieved a significant victory in the fight against the SARS epidemic but warns more effective measures are needed to tackle future medical emergencies.

    The national anti-SARS meeting came a little more than a month after the World Health Organization removed Beijing from its list of SARS-infected areas.

    Today, the Health Ministry announced the number of SARS patients still in hospitals on the Chinese mainland is 12; all are in Beijing.

    President Hu used his speech to the meeting to pay tribute to medical staff and SARS patients who lost their lives in the fight against the virus.

    He said the SARS outbreak was a reminder that China needs to reform its public health sector in order to prevent and contain the spread of contagious diseases.

    In late April, the Chinese government decided to spend more than 400-million US dollars to set up a nationwide health network to fight SARS and deal with other medical emergencies.

    In his address to the meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao called for continued vigilance to prevent a resurgence of the SARS epidemic.

    The Chinese premier outlined steps for public health reform in the years ahead and stressed the government's role in public service.


Editor: Yang Feiyang  CCTV.com


China Central Television,All Rights Reserved