2020 Chinese Hospital Presidents Forum and Experience Exchange Meeting on COVID-19 Prevention and Control Successfully Held

On July 24, the “2020 China Hospital Presidents’ Forum and Experience Exchange Conference on COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Chinese Hospitals,” hosted by the Chinese Hospital Association, was successfully held in Beijing and Chengdu.

Centered on the exchange and sharing of experiences in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and themed around promoting the noble professional spirit of healthcare workers, this conference featured a main forum and three sub-forums focusing on post-pandemic hospital management, Party-building-led epidemic prevention and control, and scientific epidemic prevention. Fang Laiying and Li Linkang, Vice Presidents of the Chinese Hospital Association, presided over the sessions at the Beijing and Chengdu venues, respectively. The conference was organized by Health界 (Healthjie) and supported by Simcere Pharmaceutical.

In his opening remarks, Liu Qian, Vice Chairman of the Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Chinese Hospital Association, affirmed that healthcare workers across the country had resolutely implemented the directives and requirements set by the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core. He praised them for braving dangers and moving against the tide to combat the epidemic, thereby embodying the professional spirit of “reverence for life, healing the wounded and rescuing the dying, dedication, and boundless love,” and earning them the acclaim as the “most beautiful heroes who moved against the tide.” The Chinese Hospital Association adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, upholds the mission of the “Four Services,” closely aligns with the Healthy China Strategy, and effectively leverages its role as an industry organization in promoting sector development.

During the dialogue session, a live link was established between Beijing and Chengdu. Wu Zunyou, Chief Epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Wang Jianye, Vice President of the Chinese Hospital Association and Director of Beijing Hospital; and Zhao Yue, Party Secretary of Peking University People’s Hospital, spoke from the Beijing venue. From the Chengdu venue, Wang Wei, Executive Vice President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Director of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Wang Xin, Party Secretary of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, also shared their management experiences in epidemic prevention and control, as well as their stories in the fight against the pandemic.

At the main forum of the Experience Exchange Conference, Wang Fei, Deputy Director of the Medical Resources Division under the Bureau of Medical Administration and Hospital Management of the National Health Commission, delivered a report titled “How Chinese Hospitals Responded to the Major Test of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Drawing on his personal experience of more than 140 days on the front lines of epidemic control, he provided insights into how hospitals managed during the outbreak and how they recovered in its aftermath. Zhu Yimin, Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Health Commission, highlighted China’s contributions and spirit in the global fight against the pandemic, showcasing China’s strength and sense of responsibility. Zhang Shuyang, Party Secretary of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, shared stories from the hospital’s medical teams dispatched to Hubei Province, where healthcare workers voluntarily stepped forward, advanced against the flow of danger, and rescued lives from the brink of death, composing moving anthems of heroism in the battle against the epidemic.

At the sub-forum on Party-building leadership, experts shared inspiring accounts of how grassroots Party organizations at the forefront of the fight against the epidemic fully leveraged their role as fighting fortresses, and how the vast majority of Party members, staying true to their original aspiration and keeping their mission firmly in mind, actively played exemplary and pioneering roles. These discussions enhanced attendees’ understanding of the importance of strengthening Party building in public hospitals. The sub-forum on post-pandemic hospital management conducted in-depth explorations into issues such as the development of primary healthcare within the tiered diagnosis and treatment system, and how to improve decision-making, deployment, and crisis management capabilities of hospitals during major public health emergencies, thereby helping attendees clarify approaches to addressing these challenges. At the sub-forum on scientific epidemic prevention and control, attendees gained valuable insights into issues of widespread concern, including how to harness the innovative potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to play a positive role in epidemic prevention and control, and how to address shortcomings in medical informatization.

Song Shigui, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Health Commission, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Ren Jinsheng, Chairman of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, also gave remarks at the opening ceremony.