Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday called for the establishment of a national fast-deployment mechanism to handle public health emergencies and promote the law as a powerful weapon to defeat SARS.

Wen said the newly enacted regulation on public health emergencies was a major step towards ensuring China handles health crises according to law.

In order to beat the deadly SARS virus and future public health crises, local governments at all levels should establish contingency headquarters to co-ordinate the efforts of relevant departments, he said.

He also called for the establishment of a network to ensure transparent reporting on epidemics from provincial to grassroots village levels. Any work unit or individual should not cover up or lie about the real epidemic situation.

Wen said local governments above county level should establish disease prevention and control centres and set up a contingency troop of medical workers to handle emergencies in public health.

Experts said government responsibility in dealing with crises has been spotlighted by the State Council regulation on the handling of public health emergencies.

"A public health emergency is a social issue that has a great impact on the country,'' said Song Ruilin, vice-director of the Department of Science, Education, Culture and Health with the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council.

"That is why the regulation puts a heavy responsibility on governments to enhance management and unified command,'' he added.

Song's office was a major drafter of the regulation which took effect last Friday after being signed by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The regulation was passed against the backdrop of the country's intensified fight against SARS.

Song said the regulation represents a legislative breakthrough in requiring governments at all levels to report crisis information without delay.

Instead of using vague terms such as "timely'' and "immediately,'' the regulation has set a time limit for governments to report crises, highlighting the need for quick response.

It says provincial governments must report emergencies to State public health authorities within an hour of receiving reports of an emergency.

"The clear time limit has actually nailed down the responsibility of governments and serves as a benchmark for telling whether officials have delayed information,'' Song said.

Sun Chengye, associate researcher of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, shared Song's view.

"Time means life in any kind of public health emergency and it is vital to have a specific time limit for reporting information,'' Sun said.

The regulation also requires State health authorities to swiftly release emergency information to all provinces including those not hit by the emergency.

Edior: Liao Ming