To improve medical services for outbreaks of infectious diseases and response capability for pre-hospital medical emergencies, the National Health Commission (NHC) recently issued a circular which provides specific requirements for local pre-hospital emergency medical aid under regular COVID-19 prevention and control.

According to the circular, high priority should be given to the promotion and sound development of pre-hospital medical emergency services. To improve the quality and efficiency of responses to medical emergencies multiple measures should be taken, including improvement of the first aid network layout, resource integration, talent training and quality control.

Local authorities should formulate pre-hospital medical emergency working plans during COVID-19 prevention and control based on their specific conditions in the anti-virus fight, supervise emergency centers and internet hospitals to implement the plans and ensure that patients are transferred safely and efficiently.

It is necessary to arrange special vehicles to perform high-risk tasks, said the circular. Local health authorities are in charge of the transfer of COVID-19 patients and should set up special fleets in response to the epidemic. Strict terminal disinfection is required for transfer vehicles and medical equipment.

The circular also emphasized information technology development. The NHC will establish a pre-hospital emergency information reporting mechanism, strengthen information management and enhance monitoring and early warning systems.

Local health authorities should push forward information technology development for emergency centers, promote information sharing and connections and improve dispatch efficiency and quality. Local emergency centers should strengthen personnel training, intensify inquiries during dispatch events and categorize dispatches in accordance with specific situations.

Efforts should be made to strengthen effective connections between pre-hospital emergency responses and medical services in hospital, said the circular, stressing that local authorities should reinforce management of emergency treatment and fever clinics in medical institutions, improve treatment process in hospitals and integrate relevant departments for prompt treatment to improve efficiency.

The circular stipulates that local health departments should strengthen supervision and guidance on pre-hospital medical procedures in response to the epidemic, find and solve problems in a timely manner and regularly report progress.