The third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22. [Photo by Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]

A complete mechanism integrating medicine and disease prevention should be set up as soon as possible, with the aim of providing the public with all-round and better public services throughout their lives, according to Lin Xinglu, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NCP) from Sanming, East China's Fujian province.

In his proposal to the third session of the 13th NCP, Lin said that in view of the weaknesses and deficiencies exposed by COVID-19, we need to speed up establishing the integration of medicine and disease prevention.

Currently, we are facing a complicated situation in our public health services, such as the increasing threats of multiple diseases. There is still a disconnect between disease prevention and control, and as a result, incidences of chronic disease cannot be effectively brought under control. 

The interconnectivity and information sharing systems among disease control and prevention centers at all levels have not been established, and so public health agencies across the country are facing the same problems in isolated islands of information.

The country also lacks a comprehensive health management system. In terms of health services, a public health service network including disease control and prevention and health care for the elderly, women and children, as well as health education, has not taken shape.

Lin proposed that the government should give priority to disease control and prevention, seek breakthroughs in the reform of public health institutions, promote the deep integration of medicine and disease prevention, and shift the focus from disease treatment to public health.

The government should also strengthen the construction of the public health system, promote the integration of public health and clinical care, improve government investment in public health, and increase investment in medical infrastructure, medical research, talent cultivation, scientific research and key discipline construction.

More attention should be paid to improving the mechanisms for public health evaluation, and a unified investigation, monitoring and evaluation system should be established, making sure that public health services achieve real progress.