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Article featured in Business Beijing, June 2005
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Beijing Considering Chief Public Health Officer

2005/06/15

The Beijing Municipal Public Health Bureau is giving priority to exploring regulations needed to create a chief public health officer (CPHO) position this year, after which a detailed plan will be worked out.

After the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003, Dong Xiaoping, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, submitted a proposal seeking a feasibility study concerning the adoption of a CPHO system.

In it, he said the outbreak revealed that Beijing had insufficient facilities to deal with an epidemic and lacked a scientific public health system.

"Therefore, when massive public health events happen, it is not public health specialists but governmental officers or even leaders who are responsible for taking measures to deal with them," said Dong.

In developed countries, outbreaks or emerging public health events are announced to the public by public health officers, who can determine relevant measures. In some countries, chief public health officers also have the right to instruct other government departments in dealing with events.

"However, in China, this is done by chief executives in health departments or government leaders," said Dong, adding that it was not credible to see an executive officer addressing the public, while using medical terminology unfamiliar to the official, when an epidemic such as SARS breaks out.

In response to Dong's proposal, the Municipal Health Bureau decided to place an investigation of CPHO regulations on the top of this year's work plan.

The study will focus on the qualifications and responsibilities of a CPHO and the appointment process, and if there is sufficient demonstration of need, the bureau will submit a plan to the municipal government.

 

 



 
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