What changes will it bring? Analysis | The first "Regulations" integrating patriotic hygiene and health promotion are written into law
The "Shanghai Patriotic Hygiene and Health Promotion Regulations" were reviewed and approved by the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress and will be officially implemented on November 1 this year. This is also the first regulation in my country that integrates patriotic hygiene and health promotion. The "Regulations" achieve the transformation of patriotic health from environmental health management to comprehensive social health management through three major highlights: "emphasis on social health co-governance, promoting urban health co-construction, and advocating health sharing for all". What does it mean for the "Regulations" to be enacted into law? What significance does the "Regulations" have for urban development and personal health? Jiefang Daily·Shangguan News reporter interviewed industry experts on this.
The implementation of the "Regulations" this time is Shanghai's improvement of the "big health and big health" pattern and the promotion of patriotic health's transformation from environmental health management to comprehensive social health management. Professor Luo Li, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Public Health of Fudan University, said that the enactment of the Regulations into law is a response to my country’s Basic Medical Care and Health Promotion Law. In 2019, my country's first "Basic Law" on health was implemented, and relevant matters will be promoted in each subsequent area to achieve continuous improvement of the legal system.
In fact, it is normal for developed countries to have clear legal provisions for individual health behaviors. Experts give examples: European and American countries have always had explicit regulations on the sales of alcohol and tobacco. The "Regulations" that have been "entered into law" this time cover more content and perfectly combine patriotic hygiene and health promotion. Luo Li explained: The patriotic health movement has been carried out in our country for 71 years. The Patriotic Health Movement focuses on infectious diseases, insists on prevention, mass prevention and control, and mobilizes and organizes the participation of the broadest masses; as for health promotion, chronic diseases have become more common in an aging society. As a major health threat, it is particularly meaningful to prevent and control chronic diseases and achieve "active health".
Zhang Gang, former vice president of the Shanghai Red Cross Society, has been engaged in the health field for more than 40 years. He told reporters that the patriotic health movement was of great significance in improving people's health in the early days of New China, and it has developed a path of wide coverage, low investment, and high efficiency. A path to health and disease prevention with Chinese characteristics. The patriotic health movement in the new era has given it new content, namely healthy cities and health promotion. The enactment of the "Regulations" into law not only expands the scope, but also innovates the content. Combining the two takes the lead in legislation and sets a benchmark for all provinces and cities.
Over the years, WHO has emphasized the use of government and social forces to solve difficult public health problems. Professor Fu Hua from the School of Public Health of Fudan University said that in many Asian countries, the focus of health promotion laws varies. Thailand, Japan and other countries have enacted legislation in areas such as tobacco control and nutrition, which have solved many public health problems. Some countries have also established health promotion funds to guide people to change bad health behaviors through professional public institutions. Previously, Shanghai’s tobacco control legislation had achieved remarkable results.
Shanghai is an international metropolis, and the "Regulations" have been "enacted into law" in line with the city's positioning and the needs of the times. This time the "Regulations" mainly contain advocacy provisions, and some involve punitive provisions. Experts believe that health promotion itself is an improvement on the basis of the patriotic health campaign. The latter is mainly government-led and administratively promoted. Health promotion emphasizes mobilizing public welfare organizations, family communities, and individuals from all walks of life under the guidance of the government to jointly change backward health customs, create a beautiful environment, change lifestyles, and improve health literacy.
As early as the 1980s, developed countries, mainly in Europe, had begun to build healthy cities. Zhang Gang introduced: At that time, Shanghai Jiading, as the first primary health cooperation center established in cooperation with WHO, launched an innovative pilot and became a small sample. “After nearly 40 years, the Regulations have been enacted into law to improve people’s health literacy, change their lifestyles, and promote the continuous improvement of the environment. These will nourish and enrich the level of urban civilization construction and lay the foundation for social co-governance, urban co-construction, and universal sharing. Better foundation.”
Reinforcing that "individuals are the first person responsible for their own health", the "Regulations" clarify that the education department will incorporate health education into the national education system, and include the prevention of common diseases and infectious diseases, healthy lifestyles, injury prevention capabilities, etc. into the comprehensive quality evaluation of primary and secondary school students. , incorporate students' physical health levels into the school assessment system, etc., guide students to use electronic products scientifically and rationally, and reduce and improve students' myopia, obesity and other adverse health conditions.
The "Regulations" encourage food producers to produce low-salt, low-fat, and low-sugar foods and make prominent labels on the packaging. At the same time, it was also mentioned that the city is exploring the establishment of a health points reward mechanism to reward citizens with points for participating in activities such as health education, physical fitness, and health management. Industry experts revealed that Shenzhen has previously explored health points rewards to encourage people to actively engage in healthy behaviors through running, balanced nutrition, and smoking control.
In Luo Li's view, the "Regulations" being enacted into law can better arouse the public's health awareness and healthy behaviors, and urge everyone to take action and take the initiative to be healthy. He finally said, "Enter the law is just the beginning. Whether Shanghai can really implement it will also form a healthy social atmosphere. This will take some time and depends more on the support and implementation of every citizen."
