Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged to improve medical insurance and aid system for major diseases, stressing that ensuring the safety and health of the people is the major task. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, specified the requirements at the 12th meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform, which he chairs.

Noting that combating coronavirus is a big test for the country's governance system and governance ability, he stressed the need to strengthen areas of weakness and close loopholes exposed by the current epidemic.

He said it is important to improve the country's legal legislation in public health care, including the revision and modification of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Law and the Wildlife Protection Law. 

He also urged the relevant authorities to push the biosecurity law as soon as possible. 

In addition, President Xi said the establishment of a unified and high-efficient top-down management system needs reform in major disease prevention and control systems as well as in related emergency response systems.  

He pointed out that the medical insurance and assistance system for major diseases should be improved, adding that medical institutions should first treat and then charge for emergency situations. A unified emergency material system, as a part of the national emergency management system, is also important, the president noted.

He added that the country needs to improve its goods delivery and supply system to ensure logistics and supply of goods during outbreaks.

Xi encouraged the use of digital technology such as big data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing to better support epidemic monitoring and analysis, virus tracing, prevention and treatment, and resource allocation.