The National Health Commission ("NHC") and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine ("NATCM") have recently issued the Circular on Further Strengthening Administration of Privately-run Medical Institutions to Favor Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19) Epidemic (the "Circular").
The Circular sets out requirements in four aspects over the work of privately-run medical institutions on ensuring effective epidemic prevention and control. The first is working effectively on accepting and treating patients. Privately-run medical institutions shall strictly implement the pre-examination and triage system in the out-patient departments and in the emergency departments, and if there are fever clinics, shall equip and manage them as required and ensure they function normally. The second is ramping up efforts to prevent and control inflections within the medical institutions. Privately-run medical institutions shall make further efforts to effectively prevent and control COVID-19 infections, prepare work plans, and establish the early warning mechanism and work procedures. The third is strengthening the training of knowledge and skills regarding epidemic prevention and control. In addition to all-round training for medical staff, the privately-run medical institutions shall focus on providing internal training in technical specifications and work requirements, such as the technical guide to COVID-19 prevention and control and the guidelines for the uses of common medical protective gears. And the fourth is completely mobilizing the forces of privately-run medical institutions.