Free treatment for H7N9 patients must be provided

The Chinese government should provide free treatment for anyone infected with the H7N9 bird flu in order to stop the virus spreading nationwide, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. Excerpts:

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak 10 years ago should have taught China many painful lessons. However, disclosing all necessary information to the public and treating infected people as soon as possible are the two most important ones.

As the bird flu has evolved into a major public health incident, according to the emergency guidelines implemented in May 2003, local governments above the county level must provide the necessary funds to ensure people who have contracted the virus receive prompt and effective treatment.

The health authority also announced on April 3 that hospitals should not refuse to treat patients with the H7N9 virus because of a lack of money.

Experts should also carefully study the first group of people that were infected so as to quickly build up their learning curve on the virus, which is of great importance to future prevention and control efforts.

If some people that become infected delay going to hospital because they do not have enough money, they not only threaten their own lives but also those of other people.

A dollar spent in prevention and control will save millions of dollars in treatment.