China's Ministry of Health publicized a strategy on preventing and controlling "emerging infectious diseases" on Thursday, promising to develop a long-term policy against deadly epidemics like SARS and bird flu.

According to the document, the ministry will develop a network that is alert and quick to react to the outbreak of infectious diseases.

The government promised to allocate more resources to training medical workers, improving hospital facilities and research institutes and developing a strategic supply of vaccines, medicines and equipment.

Health administrations were asked to build an efficient information sharing mechanism with other relative departments so that information on epidemics at home and abroad could be updated promptly, the document said.

"The mechanism will connect hospitals, administrations and experts with the public," the strategy said.

To realize this, the administration will work more on computerizing information sharing and reporting system.

The government will also work out an investment policy on emergency supply of vaccines and medicines, said the document.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2007)