Medical institutions urged to boost resources

Health authorities are making efforts to improve medical resource supplies and ensure the treatment of patients with severe illnesses or who are in critical condition, an official from the National Health Commission said.

Jiao Yahui said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday that fever clinics are lacking in some areas and medical institutions are gearing up to better handle emergency calls from patients.

"Thus, we've guided local authorities to improve their medical resource supplies and services to meet the public's increasing demands," she said.

According to Jiao, medical institutions and hospitals above the township level are required to open fever clinics. As of Sunday, over 16,000 hospitals have opened their fever clinics to the public, and 41,000 grassroots level medical institutions are offering fever treatments.

"Some provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Anhui province, have transformed former mobile cabin hospitals into temporary fever clinics to aid the public," she said. "We've also encouraged hospitals to offer consultation and medication guidance online and to increase their supply of medications to make sure patients can purchase them."

Jiao stressed that receiving and treating patients with severe illnesses remains the priority of the commission's work.

"The local health departments and hospitals are required to put more resources into treating the severely ill. We've required hospitals to place these patients under emergency observation in 24 hours. For severe cases who are infected with COVID-19, hospitals should offer professional and standard treatment," she said.

She added that the commission has also offered guidance to local authorities to help improve their ability to handle emergency calls from severely ill patients.

"We strongly suggest that the elderly take COVID-19 vaccines to prevent or reduce the possibility of severe illness and death," Jiao said.