New position of public health in medical institutions in the context of COVID-19 epidemic

In order to summarize the experience and lessons in the response of COVID-19 and other public health emergencies in medical institutions in China, the weak in the public health system were identified. We analyzed the contribution of the public health system to the people's health, summarized the public health functions, current status in performing public health, the existing problems and the development trend of public health in medical institutions in China. China's public health system has contributed greatly to the health of the Chinese people since the founding of the People's Republic of China, however, old and new infectious diseases epidemics pose huge challenge to our public health system, In medical institutions in China, public health management is weak; the compensation mechanism of public health has not been established; surveillance is not sensitive; clinical treatment and prevention are not integrated; difficulties exist in nosocomial infection prevention and control, working enthusiasm for public health is not high at present. It is necessary to pay attention to public health in medical institutions, strengthen the construction of the public health system by increasing investment and address the problems in public health function from the respects of system and mechanism in medical institutions, promote the integration of clinical treatment and prevention, and improve the capability of medical institutions in performing public health, especially in primary medical institutions in rural areas.