Highlights from white paper on China's fight against COVID-19

TCM used in treating 92% COVID-19 cases

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used in treating 92 percent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases across China.

A set of TCM diagnosis and treatment protocols were developed to cover the entire process of medical observation, treatment of mild, moderate, severe and critical cases, and recovery, and they have been applied nationwide.

In Hubei, a province once hardest hit by COVID-19, more than 90 percent of confirmed cases received TCM treatment that proved effective.

China gives COVID-19 patients free treatment

All COVID-19 patients, confirmed or suspected, received subsidies from state finance for any medical bills not covered by basic medical insurance, serious disease insurance, or the medical assistance fund.

As of May 31, the medical bills of 58,000 inpatients with confirmed infections had been settled by basic medical insurance, with a total expenditure of 1.35 billion yuan (about $190 million), or 23,000 yuan per person.

The average cost for treating COVID-19 patients in severe condition surpassed 150,000 yuan, and in some critical cases the individual cost exceeded 1 million yuan, all covered by the state.

Over 3,000 COVID-19 patients aged above 80 cured in Hubei

More than 3,000 COVID-19 patients over the age of 80, including seven centenarians, have been cured in Hubei, the Chinese province once hardest hit by COVID-19.

Many of these cured senior patients were brought back to life from the verge of death. For example, a 70-year-old patient was saved thanks to intensive treatment and care by more than 10 medical workers over a period of several weeks. The cost of his treatment, nearly 1.5 million yuan (around $211,372), was fully covered by the government.

Tailored treatment was given to elderly patients with underlying medical conditions, said the white paper, adding that as long as there was the slightest hope, doctors would never give up, and the need for personnel, medicines, equipment or funds was met.

China launches largest medical assistance operation against COVID-19

China has launched the largest medical assistance operation since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to support the COVID-19 fight in Wuhan and other locations in Hubei Province.

From Jan 24 to March 8, China rallied 346 national medical teams, consisting of 42,600 medical workers and more than 900 public health professionals to the immediate aid of Hubei and the city of Wuhan.

The People's Liberation Army dispatched over 4,000 medical personnel to Hubei to work in epidemic control and sent aircraft to transport emergency medical supplies.

The Chinese government also urgently solicited key medical supplies including negative pressure ambulances and ventilators from across the country for Wuhan and other locations in Hubei.