BEIJING — Health institutions in regions across China deemed to be of low epidemic risks shall provide healthcare services in full, according to a circular issued by the National Health Commission.

The circular demands local authorities adopt differentiated measures, based on local conditions in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, to guide health institutions to resume normal services to meet people's healthcare needs.

Health institutions in low-risk regions should be guided to rationally allocate medical resources and ensure the smooth operation of various departments, including outpatient and emergency services, hospitalization, surgery, examination and testing.

In medium-risk regions, hospitals, on the basis of doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control, should gradually shift their focus to ensuring daily healthcare services, according to the circular.

Health institutions in high-risk regions are asked to step up services for key patients and meet people's basic and necessary healthcare needs while focusing on epidemic prevention and control.

In high-risk regions, the circular says, effective measures should be taken to meet healthcare needs of patients with major diseases that require long-term treatment, such as chemoradiotherapy and hemodialysis, as well as of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children and the elderly.

At the same time, efforts should also be made to ensure that patients with acute and serious injuries receive timely treatment there, according to the circular.