Regulations on Preparedness for and Response to Emergent Public Health Hazards

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2014-06-18

Article 23 The competent health administrative department of the State Council shall, in light of the situation of the emergent hazard, timely distribute the relevant information to the relevant departments of the State Council, the competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government and the relevant departments of the Army. The competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government in places where the emergent hazard breaks out shall timely distribute the relevant information to the competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments of adjacent provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government. The competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government which have received the information distributed shall, as necessary, timely notify the medical and health institutions within their administrative areas. The relevant departments of the local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, upon outbreak of an emergent hazard or upon identification of any circumstances likely to cause an emergent hazard, timely distribute the relevant information to the competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments at the same level.

Article 24 The State shall establish a system for accusation in terms of the emergent hazard, and make public uniform telephone numbers for making reports or accusations concerning the emergent hazard. Any unit or individual has the right to report potential risks of an emergent hazard to the people’s governments and their relevant departments, or to make accusations to the people’s governments at the higher level and their relevant departments against the failure to perform, or to perform as required, the duty of making response to the emergent hazard by local people’s governments and their relevant departments. The people’s governments and their relevant departments which have received the report or information shall organize immediate investigation into and disposition of the potential risks of the emergent hazard or the failure to perform, or perform as required, the duty of making response to the emergent hazard. The people’s governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall reward the units or individuals that have contributed meritorious service by making accusations in terms of the emergent hazard.

Article 25 The State shall establish a system for the releasing of information on the emergent hazard. The competent health administrative department of the State Council is responsible for releasing the information on the emergent hazard to the public. When necessary, it may authorize the competent health administrative departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government to release to the public the information on the emergent hazard within their respective administrative areas. The information shall be released in a timely, accurate and comprehensive way.

Chapter IV Emergency Response

Article 26 Upon the outbreak of an emergent hazard, the competent health administrative department shall organize experts to conduct comprehensive assessment in respect of the emergent hazard, so as to draw a preliminary conclusion in respect of its classification and make proposals on whether to initiate the emergency preparedness plan for the emergent hazard.