The 2015 Report of Disease Prevention and Control Progress in China

Source: en.nhfpc.gov.cn

Updated: 2015-06-03

Epidemic Prevention in Natural Disasters and Big Events

To fight against natural catastrophes such as Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan Province, Yushu Earthquake in Qinghai Province, Zhouqu Mountain Torrents and Mud-Rock Flows in Gansu Province, CDC workers were quick and efficient in response, taking on responsibility of epidemic reporting, vaccination, sanitary disposals and health education, which prevented any potential epidemic outbreaks following massive disasters. The mission of epidemic prevention was also accomplished during big events like Beijing Olympic Games, Shanghai World Expo and Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.

Ⅲ. Prevention and Control of Endemic Diseases

China is a country with grave prevalence of endemic diseases. 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) are suffering from endemic diseases to varying extents, among which are iodine deficiency disorders, endemic fluorosis, endemic arsenicosis, Kashin-Beck disease and Keshan disease. For years, the Chinese government has been making increasing efforts on prevention and control of these diseases, establishing and optimizing endemic disease management system. Such efforts are notably effective, with the prevalence of endemic diseases becoming under overall control. For iodine deficiency disorders, a comprehensive intervention strategy featuring salt iodization is adopted, promoting iodine supplement in rational and locally adaptive manners. The nutritional iodine level remains balanced in general populations. By 2000, iodine deficiency disorders had been generally eradicated nationwide. As of 2014, 98% of counties in China had accomplished the mission of elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.

To prevent endemic fluorosis and arsenicosis, modifications of household heating, cooking and water supply systems have been promoted in affected areas, which led to tremendous reduction in occurrence of fluorosis and arsenicosis. 99.4% of heating and cooking systems have been modified in areas with frequent endemic fluorosis induced by coal combustion. Infrastructure has been upgraded in areas with drinking water type of endemic fluorosis to ensure drinking water security. The epidemics and impacts of drinking brick-tea type of endemic fluorosis have also been identified. Epidemiological investigations into endemic arsenicosis distribution have been completed. Similar modification strategies have been implemented to protect citizens from arsenic poisoning.

To fight against Kashin-Beck disease and Keshan disease, a range of measures were taken such as resident migration, importing food from unaffected regions and quarantine of pre-school children from affected areas. By 2014, Kashin-Beck disease had been controlled in over 90% of affected villages, with Keshan disease controlled in 96.4% of affected counties.

Ⅳ. Prevention and Control of NCDs

Increasing pace of industrialization, urbanization and population aging together with people’s unhealthy lifestyles is accelerating the surge in incidence of NCDs in China in recent years. Cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumors are becoming primary causes of deaths that account for 86.6% of national total mortality, producing a disease burden approximating 70% of the total. In line with the changes in the disease spectrum, Chinese government is constantly increasing its investment in support of NCDs management, which has yielded favorable progress.

Establishment of a Preliminary Prevention and Control System for NCDs

Specified agencies have been established and coordinated to provide guidance for national NCDs prevention and control. These agencies include The National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention of China CDC, National Center for Cancer and National Center for Cardiovascular Disease. Approximately 50% of provinces claim specified offices for NCDs prevention and control, covering tumors, cardiovascular, oral diseases and so on. Facilitating inter connection between the central and the local, combining prevention and intervention, balancing traditional and modern medicine, a new paradigm for NCDs control is currently on its way.

Putting Forth an Effort to Construct a Monitoring Network for NCDs and Nutrition

Based on a 2002 survey on nutritional and health status of Chinese populations, with integration and expansion on the content and range of surveillance, a preliminary integrated monitoring system is coming into shape, covering a range of aspects from causes of deaths, NCDs and associated risk factors, follow-up registration of cancer patients, to nutritional status of Chinese citizens. The current system ensures an overall identification of major NCDs, people’s nutritional conditions and trends.

Continual Improvements on Prevention and Intervention Strategies and Measure for NCDs

Blueprint for NCDs Prevention and Control in China (2012-2015) issued by multisectoral has been implemented, which promotes Nationwide Healthy Lifestyle Initiative, with a broad coverage in 77.4% of counties (cities, districts) in China. Active actions have been taken to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of major cancers, screening for cardiovascular diseases like stroke, integrative interventions for pediatric oral diseases and nutritional intervention in high-risk populations. NCDs management has become a component of the national fundamental public health services, where free services and aids are provided to patients with hypertension or diabetes, urban and rural alike, by local medical institutions. By the end of 2014, national patients under management had numbered a total of 85 million and 25 million for these two diseases respectively.

Exploring New Strategies and New Implementations on NCDs Prevention and Control Actively

A new operating paradigm for NCDs prevention and control has been formed, featuring government’s leading role, intersectional coordination, social mobilization and extensive participation. Construction of National NCDs Integrated Control and Prevention Demonstration District with a total of 265 at national level and 542 at provincial levels by 2014. Provincial and ministerial governments have forged effective cooperation. In Shandong Province, a movement calling for reduction in daily salt intake has been initiated to prevent and control hypertension. In the Huai River region, work has been started to promote comprehensive prevention and intervention of cancer. NCDs prevention and control is also listed as a major component in the national “Hygienic City” and “Healthy City” movement.

Ⅴ. Mental Health Administration

In recent years, the mental health problem in China is increasingly noteworthy. With the rapid development of economics and transformation of the society, Chinese people are experiencing growing daily pressure and the incidence of common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, is on the rise. Common psychological and behavioral problems in students and employees are gradually increased every year. To coordinate the implementation of the Mental Health Law, the State Council and related administrative departments have made a series of policies on offering medical treatment and add to patients with psychosis and on the construction and development of mental disorders prevention and control system. A regular inter-sector meeting among 18 administrative departments has been initiated to address major and tough problems in mental illness management. During the twelfth Five-year Plan period, the Construction and Development of Mental Health Prevention and Treatment System Plan has been executed, with a total financial input of 16.9 billion yuan from both the central and local government. 549 provincial and municipal mental health institutions have been reconstructed and expanded and 648 mental health institutions have been equipped with basic facilities. General hospitals are instructed to establish psychiatric departments. These measures have prominently improved the quality of medical conditions and services for mental disorder patients.

With the inclusion of psychosis into the New Cooperative Medical System (NCMS) and Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance program (URBMI), and the implementation of local medical assistance policies, patients’ burden has been eased to a great extent. Using subsidy from the central government, the Administration and Treatment Program for Psychosis has been launched. The management of resident patients with psychosis has been included into national basic public health services. A report system for psychosis is established with regular followed up, which has controlled and eased the illness of numerous patients. By the end of 2014, 4.376 million patients with psychosis had established health records, and 3.414 million patients had received public health services, and 97.6% of them were in stable or basically stable condition.