The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) held a simulation on public health emergencies in Beijing on May 2. 

The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) held a simulation, or table-top exercise, on public health emergencies in Beijing on May 2.

Li Bin, minister responsible for the NHFPC, attended the activity and delivered a speech.

The exercise simulated that a severe respiratory infectious disease caused by a new type of highly pathogenic virus had broken out and all countries and the international community had to respond to prevent an epidemic.

The drill tried to find solutions to emergency issues that would arise from that situation and to raise national departments' awareness of the relevant response systems in place.

Li said that the drill reflected the international communitys growing concern about global health emergencies.

She said "Through the table-top exercise, we shared experience and improved the capacity to cope."

She urged health departments at all levels to increase their awareness and improve their capacity by learning from experience and the achievements of international health emergency bodies, so as to be able to offer timely medical assistance to foreign countries in need.

Health departments should cooperate with other departments to safeguard health and safety by strengthening the national health emergency response.

Besides the top health authorities, 18 other national departments involved in health emergency response, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce, took part in the activity.