Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Apr 2022)
Trans-Regional Medical Support in Public Health Emergencies: A Case Study of Wuhan in the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in China
Abstract
Tao Li School of Law, Hebei University of Economics and Business, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Tao Li, School of Law, Hebei University of Economics and Business, Xuefu Road No. 47, Shijiazhuang, 050061, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18034167013, Fax +86 311 87655560, Email [email protected]: In the occurrence of public health emergency events, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the most severely affected areas may face various problems due to insufficient medical staff and materials. These problems can be solved by the adequate supply of trans-regional medical support. However, due to the Chinese government’s hierarchical and segmented administrative system, the provision of such support to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in China met several challenges, including insufficient coordination and weak integration. This article summarizes four aspects of fragmentation related to the holistic management of this situation: cooperation from local government officials, supply of medical resources, support from logistical services, and incentive mechanisms. Furthermore, suggestions for improving the holistic management of trans-regional medical support are provided.Keywords: public health emergency, COVID-19, trans-regional medical support, holistic management
