A symposium was held by the National Health Commission (NHC) from Nov 26 to 27 in Beijing to expand efforts in building capacity of public health emergency response. Lei Haichao, vice-minister of the NHC, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Lei said that while highlighting coordination and high efficiency health emergency response should be based on monitoring and early warning mechanism, and must be properly prepared for the unexpected. 

He stressed that health authorities should speed up improvement in emergency response plans in accordance with their experience and practice in combating COVID-19, systematically assess the shortcomings and weaknesses in capacity building, and intensify construction of emergency rescue bases and professional teams.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to guarantee emergency medical reserves and supplies and promote regular drills. 

Efforts should also go into formulating evaluation systems and methods of public health safety and beefing up capabilities of scientific and technological innovation, he said, adding that in-time solutions to key technical problems should be enhanced.

Grassroots officials responsible for health emergency from some provinces and cities, experts and NHC officials participated in the symposium.