Chinese authorities are set to conduct random, unannounced inspections at healthcare facilities to address incomplete and underreported COVID-19 data, according to the country's health commission. This move comes as international health authorities and governments call for increased transparency from China.
For an extended period, China has faced demands from health experts and nations to be more transparent about COVID data, particularly concerning severe hospitalizations and fatalities. Recently, the World Health Organization's advisors urged China to disclose all information related to the COVID pandemic's origin.
The National Health Commission announced new measures, tasking provincial governments with daily random supervision and inspections across various areas. These areas include vaccination management at medical and healthcare institutions and verifying the receipt and storage of new coronavirus vaccines.
Additionally, the governments have been instructed to monitor any concealment, delay, or misreporting of virus infection reports. They are also to enhance the management of medical waste and strengthen biosecurity management of pathogenic microbiology laboratories.
The health authority has advised local governments to actively seek financial support to ensure funding for the costs associated with these random inspections.
By implementing these random, on-site checks at medical facilities, China aims to address concerns about the accuracy and transparency of its COVID-19 data. As international health authorities and governments continue to call for increased openness, these measures represent a step toward addressing those concerns and improving global understanding of the ongoing pandemic.
