China has recently taken multiple measures to ensure people can get medical treatment, improve medical services for the elderly and strengthen epidemic prevention and control in rural areas.

Medical services prioritized in elderly care facilities

In elderly care facilities and social welfare institutions, the provision of medical services is prioritized, according to a video conference held by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Thursday.

The meeting ordered local civil affairs departments to carry out thorough investigations in high-risk locations, including the assessment of drug reserves, medical treatment, health services, vaccination services and emergency response capabilities.

Party committees and governments at the local level should provide support for institutions with serious difficulties, the meeting stressed.

It also called for hospitals to be designated for the transport and treatment of infected people in nursing homes, and urged special access to medical care be provided to children in welfare institutions.

Fever clinics in full swing

In recent days, multiple Chinese cities have opened fever clinics in gymnasiums or turned nucleic acid testing booths to temporary fever clinics to relieve the pressure of medical treatment.

In Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, obsolete nucleic acid testing booths have been repurposed into temporary fever clinics and some of them operate 24 hours a day.

Besides, medical institutions at all levels are optimizing procedures, expanding resources, and increasing medical staff on duty to make every effort to address the urgent and anxious needs of the patients.

At present, the 145 fever clinics in Shanghai's secondary and above hospitals are fully opened to meet the needs of citizens for medical services.

Outside the emergency hall of Shanghai Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, the hospital has begun to provide emergency and fever outpatient pre-examination service in the outdoor ventilated area.

East China's Hangzhou City is among the Chinese cities opening internet hospitals to ensure that residents can seek medical treatment without leaving their homes.

Epidemic prevention and control strengthened in rural areas

In response to the relative shortage of health service resources in rural areas and increased population flow during the New Year and Spring Festival, when people working in cities often return to their hometowns, local governments are strengthening epidemic prevention and control and health services in rural areas. 

The construction of fever clinics in township hospitals is an important part of epidemic prevention in rural areas. 

A health center in Tandu town, Linxiang City, central China's Hunan Province has set up a fever clinic with medical staff on duty 24 hours a day. 

Zhang Changli, head of the health center, said the hospital has three doctors on duty and treats dozens of patients every day. It also has a stockpile of emergency medicines, including antipyretic drugs.

(With input from Xinhua)