The General Office of the National Health Commission ("NHC") has recently issued the Circular on Safeguarding Regulatory Services for Radiodiagnosis and Radiotherapy Safety in the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19) Epidemic (the "Circular"), immediately effective from the date of issuance.
The Circular states that according to the needs of epidemic prevention and control, health departments at all levels shall ensure overall coordination of regulatory efforts at radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy, and provide supporting services for epidemic prevention and control by medical institutions. The Circular further clarifies that in the midst of epidemic prevention and control, medical institutions offering radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy (including makeshift hospitals built in response to the epidemic to centralize patients for treatment) may be exempted from going through the licensing formalities for radiodiagnosis technology and medical radiation institutions, provided that the quality and safety of medical care are ensured, health rights and interests of medics engaged in radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy, patients and the masses are safeguarded, and the diagnosis and treatment equipment, venues and protective measures fulfill the requirements set out in relevant standards, adding that if they will continue with relevant work after the end of the epidemic, they shall go through the relevant formalities as required.