世界衛生組織盛讚中國疫苗監管體系

FANS of the China model frequently say that, for all the disadvantages of a one-party state, there are also benefits. Enforcing basic health care is one—and by no means a small one. Last year China’s mortality rate for children under five years old was just one-fifth the rate it was in 1991, down from 61 deaths per 1, 000 live births to 12. The maternal mortality rate has also dropped substantially—by 71%—since 1991. In 1992, one in ten Chinese children under five contracted hepatitis B. Today fewer than one in 100 of them carry the disease.

欣賞中國模式的人認爲這種模式是有不少可取之處的，其中重要的一點就是推行了基礎醫療保健系統。去年，中國5歲以下兒童死亡率僅爲1991年的五分之一，從每1000名活產兒中死亡61例下降到了12例。產婦死亡率相比1991年則下降了71%之多。1992年，每10個5歲以下的中國兒童中就有一個感染乙肝。如今，5歲以下兒童的乙肝發病率則下降到了1%以下。

China’s advances have not gone unnoticed. Last month a group of four international bodies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank, said China was one of ten countries to have made exceptional progress in reducing infant and maternal mortality (see chart).

中國的進步並非無人發覺。上個月，包括世界衛生組織和世界銀行在內的四大國際組織稱，世界有十個國家在降低嬰兒死亡率和產婦死亡率方面成就卓越，中國即其中之一。

China’s improvement lies in two basic, connected areas: better care at birth and countrywide immunisation. Since 2000 the government has offered subsidies to mothers who give birth in hospitals, thereby reducing health dangers from complications—especially the risk of neonatal tetanus.

中國的進步體現在兩個慼慼相關的基本方面：生產醫護和全國免疫工作。自2000年起，中國政府開始向在醫院生產的孕婦發放補貼，降低了併發症風險，特別是新生兒破傷風的患病風險。

Margaret Chan, the WHO’s director-general, this month said that China’s regulatory system for vaccines had passed the WHO’s evaluation with outstanding results. Dr Chan says she has “full confidence” in the safety of vaccines made in China. Last year the WHO approved one for the first time for use by UNICEF.

世界衛生組織總幹事陳馮富珍本月表示，中國疫苗國家監管體系通過了世衛組織評估。陳馮富珍還說道，她對中國生產疫苗的安全性“充滿了信心”。去年，中國疫苗首次通過了世衛組織的認證，並列入了聯合國兒童基金會的疫苗採購清單。

That China is now at a stage where it needs a more sophisticated and targeted immunisation programme is testimony to its success, however. It is a sign that 1.4 billion people have taken another step up the ladder of good health.

目前中國需要制定更精細、更明確的免疫計劃，但這也從一方面說明了中國的成功，顯示出14億中國民衆的健康水平有了質的提升。