Regulations on Preparedness for and Response to Emergent Public Health Hazards

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2014-06-18

(Adopted at the Seventh Executive Meeting of the State Council on May 7, 2003, promulgated by Decree No. 376 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on May 9, 2003, and effective as of the date of promulgation)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of effectively preventing, timely controlling, minimizing and eliminating emergent public health hazards, safeguarding the health of the public and the safety of their lives, and maintaining normal social order.

Article 2 As used in these Regulations, the term “emergent public health hazard” (hereinafter referred to as emergent hazard) refers to major epidemics of infectious diseases, large amount of aggregated cases from any disease with unknown reasons, severe food poisonings and occupational poisonings, as well as other public health contingencies that break out unexpectedly and result in, or are likely to result in, severe harm to the health of the public.

Article 3 Upon the outbreak of any emergent hazard, the State Council shall set up a national headquarters for response to the emergent hazard, composing of the relevant departments of the State Council and the relevant departments of the Army, with the competent leading member of the State Council serving as the commander-in-chief, which shall be responsible for leading and commanding the response to any nationwide emergent hazard in a unified way. The competent health administrative department and other departments concerned of the State Council shall, within their respective functions and duties, accomplish the work relating to the response to the emergent hazard.

Article 4 Upon the outbreak of any emergent hazard, the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall set up its own local headquarters for response to the emergent hazard respectively, with the principal leading members of the people’s government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government serving as the commanders-in-chief respectively, which shall be responsible for leading and commanding the response to the emergent hazard within its administrative area. The competent health administrative department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall be responsible for the specific organizational work relating to the investigation into and control of the emergent hazard and the medical care services concerned. The relevant departments of the local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, within their respective functions and duties, accomplish the work relating to the response to the emergent hazard.

Article 5 In the preparedness for and response to an emergent hazard, it is imperative to follow the guidelines of giving priorities to prevention and exercising unwinking vigilance, and to practise the principles of centralizing leadership, assuming respective responsibilities at corresponding levels, making timely response, adopting decidedly measures, relying on science, and enhancing cooperation.

 Article 6 The people’s government at or above the county level shall organize scientific research into the prevention and control of the emergent hazard, and keep a stockpile of materials, equipment, facilities, technologies and human resources for epidemiological investigation, isolation of infectious sources, medical salvation, field management, supervision and inspection, surveillance and testing, and health protection, etc. The expenses therefor shall be included into the finance budgets of the people’s government at the corresponding level. The State shall provide financial support to remote or poverty-stricken areas for preparedness for and response to any emergent hazard.

Article 7 The State encourages and supports international exchange and cooperation in terms of the technologies for surveillance, precaution and lash-up response to an emergent hazard.

Article 8 The relevant department of the State Council and the local people’s government at or above the county level and its department concerned shall establish a strict responsibility system for the prevention of and the response to any emergent hazard respectively and earnestly perform its own functions and duties, so as to ensure the smooth progress of the response to the emergent hazard.