Li Keqiang： Vaccine quality and safety is an untouchable ＂red line＂
"The series of cases of illegally operating vaccines in Jinan, Shandong Province are of a bad nature and the lessons are profound. The life and health of the people are more important than Mount Tai. We must be highly responsible to the people and the country, and we must thoroughly investigate and deal with it seriously and never tolerate it! " Premier Li Keqiang said at the the State Council executive meeting on April 13th.
On the same day, the meeting heard a report on the investigation, handling and supervision of a series of cases of illegal operation of vaccines in Jinan, Shandong Province, and adopted the Decision of the State Council on Revision. Li Keqiang said that vaccine quality and safety are related to people’s lives and health, especially children’s, and it is an untouchable "red line".
He stressed that it is necessary to severely crack down on illegal and criminal acts in accordance with the law, and at the same time, seriously blame the relevant dereliction of duty, and further improve the drug supervision system and the long-term mechanism for vaccine management to effectively protect people’s lives and health.
We will crack down on criminal acts with an "iron fist" according to law, and we will be seriously accountable for related dereliction of duty and will not tolerate it.
At the meeting, the heads of the joint investigation team approved by the State Council and the work inspection team of the State Council successively reported the relevant investigation and inspection results of vaccine series cases.
In March this year, after a series of cases of illegal handling of vaccines occurred in Jinan, Shandong Province, Premier Li Keqiang quickly issued important instructions, demanding that the Food and Drug Administration, the Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Public Security earnestly strengthen coordination and thoroughly investigate the flow and use of "problem vaccines". Relevant departments in the State Council immediately formed a joint investigation team to conduct in-depth field investigation, promote the nationwide joint investigation, intensify supervision and guidance on case investigation, and organize the safety and effectiveness evaluation of the seized vaccine. At the same time, the State Council sent an inspection team to supervise the whole process of investigation and handling.
At the executive meeting on April 13th, the head of the joint investigation team reported that in the first phase of investigation and handling, 192 criminal cases were filed and 202 people were detained. According to the identified situation, the meeting decided to hold the responsible persons in 17 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) such as the General Administration of Food and Drug Administration, the Health and Family Planning Commission and Shandong accountable according to the law and discipline, and the relevant parties first dismissed and demoted 357 public officials. The next step is to resolutely punish illegal crimes and dereliction of duty in accordance with the law, and put forward suggestions for further accountability according to the investigation and handling of cases.
Li Keqiang made it clear that we should continue to thoroughly investigate the case, set up a ledger for every clue, supervise key cases, and pay attention to finding out the people involved, criminal facts and vaccine flow.
"The World Health Organization, through scientific argumentation, believes that improperly stored or expired vaccines will hardly cause toxic reactions, so the vaccine safety risk of this incident is very low. But the relevant departments must establish such a consciousness: ‘ Low risk ’ Not equal to ‘ There is no risk at all ’ 。” The Prime Minister said, "It must be in accordance with the law ‘ Iron fist ’ Crack down on criminal acts, be seriously accountable for related dereliction of duty and dereliction of duty, and never tolerate it! "
The key is to improve the supervision after the event and establish a long-term mechanism for vaccine management.
Li Keqiang said that the series of vaccine cases are serious illegal and criminal acts, and at the same time, they also exposed many institutional loopholes in supervision.
"How can vaccines that do not meet the transportation specifications flow to so many places and last for so long?" The Prime Minister said sternly, "There are illegal and criminal acts in it, which need to be dealt with seriously; At the same time, it also reflects the lack of responsibility of some cadres, ‘ Inaction ’ Wait for questions. "
Li Keqiang emphasized that the current government is promoting decentralization, combining decentralization with management, and optimizing services. I have repeatedly stressed that while "decentralizing", we must strengthen supervision afterwards.
"It is necessary to seriously hold accountable the responsible personnel of functional departments who have poor supervision in vaccine production, especially in circulation and vaccination, and the leaders of local governments who have outstanding problems in illegally operating vaccines." The Prime Minister said, "The series of vaccine cases once again prove that ‘ Approval ’ It is uncontrollable. The key is to improve post-event supervision and establish a long-term mechanism for vaccine management. "
On the same day, the meeting adopted the Decision of the State Council on Revision, emphasizing the need to treat both the symptoms and root causes, strengthen system supervision, strictly manage vaccine circulation, establish a whole-course traceability system for vaccines from production to use, increase punishment and accountability, and increase the provision that the principal responsible persons of local governments and departments "take the blame and resign".
"We must earnestly learn lessons, take effective measures to treat both the symptoms and root causes, fundamentally plug defects and loopholes in the system, and effectively protect people’s lives and health!" The Prime Minister said.
Ordinary people will vote with their feet to buy products they trust!
Li Keqiang emphasized that the vaccine case is not only related to people’s health, but also to the government’s credibility and Chinese people’s confidence in "Made in China".
"A few years ago ‘ Melamine ’ The impact of the incident on the whole milk powder industry still has an impact. We must not let similar incidents happen again. " The Prime Minister said.
Li Keqiang earnestly warned the participants: "If we can’t put ‘ Made in China ’ If you make a golden signboard, ordinary people will vote with their feet to buy products they trust! "
He asked relevant departments to come up with countermeasures to improve the quality of consumer goods as soon as possible, so as to upgrade "Made in China" to "Made in China" and boost consumer confidence.
Change our thinking and respond to social concerns in a timely and proactive manner.
A department head said in his speech that the investigation is still in progress and it is still difficult to give a complete response to the public. Li Keqiang immediately said that he should change his thinking and respond to social concerns in a timely and active manner.
"If it is a rumor, it is necessary to investigate and clarify it in time; If the problem is complicated and it is impossible to draw a conclusion at the moment, it should also show the public that the government has found the problem and is dealing with it quickly, and will announce the results of the investigation as soon as possible. " The Prime Minister said.
Li Keqiang once again stressed that a very important feature of modern government is to respond to social concerns in a timely manner. This is also an important means of "expected management" in the market economy.
"Without confidence, there is no active market. All localities and departments should actively respond to social concerns in a timely manner, establish social confidence, and give the market a positive and stable expectation. " The Prime Minister said.
(Li Zhinan)