Xi calls for strong public health system

Since the CPC's 18th National Congress in late 2012, the CPC has made steady efforts to develop the public health system and successfully prevented and dealt with outbreaks of many diseases, including H1N1 influenza and Ebola, Xi said.

Noting that the disease prevention and control system is of great significance for the protection of the people's health and the maintenance of social stability, Xi said that more reform measures must be taken to raise the efficiency of disease prevention.

He instructed national-level disease prevention and control institutions to enhance their capacity building and increase their technology and talent reserves.

Township hospitals and community medical agencies should intensify their responsibilities in disease prevention and consolidate the foundation of joint prevention in grassroots organizations, Xi said.

He said it's an urgent need to increase China's capability of disease monitoring and early warning amid the country's efforts to improve the public health system.

The country's surveillance system for pandemics and public health emergencies should be improved, the monitoring system for unknown diseases and abnormal health incidents should be improved and the accuracy of assessment should be raised, he said.

Xi instructed relevant departments to strengthen the building of laboratory test networks, raise the capacity of pandemic tests and increase the capability of workers at grassroots medical institutions.