CHINA

China Revises Infectious Disease Law to Better Protect Individual Rights

By Zhou Xinda and Lu Zhenhua

Published: May. 7, 2025 5:12 p.m. GMT+8

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China’s top legislature has approved a revised law on infectious disease prevention and control, aimed at bolstering the nation’s public health defenses while seeking to better protect individual rights during outbreaks. The updated law will take effect on Sept. 1.

The National People’s Congress (NPC) voted to pass the amendments to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Law on April 30. The law was first enacted in 1989 and had been revised twice in 2004 and 2013 respectively.

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China’s revised Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Law, effective September 1, strengthens disease surveillance, data sharing, and protection of individual rights during outbreaks.
The law mandates reporting deadlines, rewards prompt reporting of unknown diseases, exempts inaccurate reporters from liability, and ensures appeals for rights infringement; personal data protection is emphasized.
Hospitals must enhance infectious disease capabilities; integration of treatment and prevention is promoted, but critics note unclear standards for official accountability.

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