Building a Better Infectious Disease Surveillance System for China: An evaluation from a political perspective

The sudden outbreak of SARS in 2003 exposed many weaknesses of China?s national disease reporting system and consequently leads to the establishment of National Infectious Disease Monitoring Information System. Although the new system provides timely and live reports of infectious diseases, miss-diagnosis and under-reporting often undermine the quality of the reported data. Disease information flow largely remains one-way through the system?s information hierarchy and its disclosure and feedback remains strictly restricted. Structural attachment of CDCs on all levels of government compromises its independency and administrative efficiency, which leads to lack of incentive and accountability for reporting, fragmentation of surveillance and difficulties of data sharing. Reformation that separates China CDC as an independent research institution may significantly increase its functionality and capability for IDs surveillance, but sustainable improvements in surveillance performance relies on a greater reform in the overall healthcare system. The author recommends this book to public health policy makers in China and those who endeavor to create a healthier life for the Chinese people.