Coronavirus: China admits ‘shortcomings’ in healthcare system

BEIJING (AFP): The coronavirus outbreak has exposed the ‘shortcomings’ in China’s healthcare system, a top health official admitted today (Saturday).

Deputy Director of China’s National Health Commission, Li Bin, in a press briefing, admitted that the healthcare system had not been adequately prepared, which had left holes in China’s response.

The health official said, “The coronavirus outbreak was a big test that revealed China still has shortcomings in its major epidemic prevention and control system, public health systems and other aspects of responding to an emergency.”

Li Bin announced, “China’s health authority will build a ‘centralised, unified and efficient leadership system that would allow it to respond more quickly and effectively to any public health crisis in the future.”  

“Officials were also discussing how to modernise the disease control and prevention system by using big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other technologies that will help to predict outbreaks more accurately and enhance preparedness,” Li added.

Li further said, “The commission was also considering ways to revise public health laws, strengthen international exchanges, and actively participate in global health governance.”

China has faced criticism both at the national and international levels for downplaying the virus and concealing information about the outbreak when it first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019.