The final round of the national health emergency response skill competition is held on Nov 16 in Beijing. [Photo by Zhang Jie]

China held a health emergency response skill competition on Nov 16 in Beijing to help improve the overall professional capability and skills of the staff.

Twenty-four members from eight teams made it to the final round after a series of regional competitions and selection which lasted for about a year.

Co-initiated by the National Health and Family Planning Commission and All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the competition has attracted an extensive participation of health emergency workers from around the country.

The activity aims to help improve the overall health emergency response skills, especially those of the grassroots level staff.

Cui Li, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, called for building a better health emergency response talent pool.

To date, China has built 37 health emergency response teams and the world’s largest direct reporting network system for the endemic of infectious diseases and public health emergencies.

After more than 10 years of hard work, China’s health emergency response teams have won acclaim worldwide for their quick response and professional work.

The national emergency medical rescue teams based in Shanghai municipality and Guangdong province have been approved by the World Health Organization to serve as international emergency medical teams.