An international forum on SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) control and prevention sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Health was held in Beijing Monday. More than 100 delegates from Italy, Germany, Japan and China conducted discussions on the theme of "defeating SARS by means of science". Han Demin, vice director of Beijing Municipal Health Bureau gave a speech at the forum, making an important summary on government work during the post-SARS period.

Han Demin pointed out that it was very common to use hormones during the treatment of SARS patients. Hormones had been used in almost every case. The long-term and large volume use of hormones would definitely bring along certain clinical side-effects. However, it is too early to put all blame for the side-effects on the use of hormones because so far, there is no clear conclusion on the influence of the SARS virus on humans especially on different body systems. As to the complications including bone necrosis, the virus itself cannot be excluded for the reasons that led to the disease besides hormones. Currently, Beijing medical organizations have launched investigations on the post-SARS period, which includes investigations on causes of bone necrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and hepatic dysfunction.

At least 2 billion yuan spent on SARS prevention in Beijing

According to Han Demin, during the SARS prevention period, budgetary appropriations were about 700 to 800 million yuan (US$85-97 million) in addition to financial input from various regions and counties as well as input from hospitals and social organizations. In addition, a large amount of money had been invested on decoration and reconstruction of appointed SARS hospitals as well as construction of emergency system and public health system. According to statistics, the expense on SARS prevention is of 2 billion yuan (US$242 million) and even more. At present, relative organizations had collected all SARS cases and set up a database. One of the most important subjects is to calculate expense on SARS patients. The figure will be published soon.

Pharmacies required to guarantee supply of anti-SARS drugs 
 
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Beijing Drug Administration (BDA) issued on Monday the Work Counterplan of Beijing's Retail Pharmacies on SARS Prevention to underling departments. It required all drugstores in the capital to reserve appropriate amounts of medicines and medical equipment needed for SARS treatment and to provide adequate drug supplies in the event of another outbreak of SARS.

BDA deputy director Zhang Wei said the city would adopt a mechanism that prescribed three early warning levels against SARS and all the drug sellers must operate in line with that. Under the third warning level, pharmacies must list antifebrile, painkiller, antipyretic and antidote into a key surveillance category and report timely the sales statistics; under the second warning level, all pharmacies must ask consumers who buy antifebriles, painkillers, antipyretics and antidotes to register their real names; under the first warning level, all pharmacies must set up special counter for selling antifebriles, painkillers, antipyretics and antidotes and sell the medicines according to prescription. Consumers must receive body temperature tests. Pharmacies should specially assign persons to receive customers whose body temperatures are higher than the standard and persuade them to have a check and diagnosis in fever clinics.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian and Daragh Moller December 19, 2003)