Trans-Regional Medical Support in Public Health Emergencies: A Case Study of Wuhan in the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in China

Abstract

In the occurrence of public health emergency events, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the most severely affected areas may face various problems due to insufficient medical staff and materials. These problems can be solved by the adequate supply of trans-regional medical support. However, due to the Chinese government’s hierarchical and segmented administrative system, the provision of such support to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in China met several challenges, including insufficient coordination and weak integration. This article summarizes four aspects of fragmentation related to the holistic management of this situation: cooperation from local government officials, supply of medical resources, support from logistical services, and incentive mechanisms. Furthermore, suggestions for improving the holistic management of trans-regional medical support are provided.