There have been urgent appeals for medical supplies in Wuhan and the province of Hubei, as the health of residents in these regions is threatened by coronavirus outbreak.
The government has blamed the Lunar New Year holiday, when factories traditionally close, for the shortages of masks, goggles and other crucial supplies, saying it is hard to step up manufacturing during the festive season.
“There are priorities in our expenditure budget and none of us could’ve expected an emergency like this,” an officer from Sichuan’s provincial CDC disclosed.
“So I believe sometimes the supplies reserve might not be ideal,” he added.
Grade III Level A hospitals have attracted the most qualified medical staff and modern equipment, and the well-known concentration of resources has put immense pressure on these hospitals.
But that does not address a larger problem: the unequal distribution of medical resources across China.
Authorities are now building two more – temporary – hospitals to accommodate the expected thousands of cases.
“We understand that a lot of patients are choosing top hospitals over others,” the Municipal Party Secretary of Wuhan said during a news conference.
“But we’re trying to change the mentality now so more people could get treated,” he stated.
