The recent death of a 3-year-old boy in Henan, China, has brought national attention to the systemic shortcomings in the management of zoonotic diseases in the China’s rural healthcare system, despite the child having had a full course of RIG treatment and post-exposure vaccination. This case reveals poor vaccination and RIG reserves, inadequate readiness in accordance with WHO guidelines, low-quality wound care, and postponed treatment, all of which are made even worse by the difficulty in accessing healthcare and the low level of public health literacy in rural areas. In an effort to achieve health equity in rural public health systems, this paper promotes the following measures to help prevent future tragedies: increasing the availability of medical resources; improving the capacity of rural healthcare workers to manage high-risk zoonoses; enhancing health education; and putting strict animal control measures in place.

A document by Ruwei Hu. Click on the document to view its contents.

China’s Law on Maternal and Infant Health Care are inadequate for the new context created by the three-child policy, leading to a delay in the provisions of maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. Several provinces have taken the initiative to develop local legislation to improve the local MNH environment. In response to the need for legal reform, Guangdong province in China has made revisions to its Guangdong Province Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Management Regulation (GPMNHMR) The amendments focus on three aspects: enhancing voluntary premarital screening, regulating assisted reproductive technology (ART) practices, and creating a supportive environment for mothers and newborns. Guangdong, having the highest birth rate in China, is one of the provinces with severe birth defects. Therefore, increasing premarital screening rates is essential. Guangdong boasts the highest number of authorized ART institutions in China, requiring effective management. Additionally, inadequate concentration on psychological well-being leads to a high rate of postpartum depression. Incorporating innovative measures into regulations necessitates a comprehensive assessment of their scientific validity and feasibility. Guangdong has advanced legislation through several approaches: integrating effective measures from pilot into regulations; co-decision making, promoting multiple stakeholders to participate in legislation; evidence-based legislation and committing to academic institutions for translation.