BEIJING — China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on July 6 said it has allocated 45.66 billion yuan (about $6.46 billion) to boost the capacity for the prevention, control, and treatment of diseases.

The funds will focus on regions hit hard by the epidemic and fields in urgent need or facing shortage.

The move is meant to enhance counties' medical and health services capacity, promote the construction of regional medical centers, upgrade and transform treatment bases for major epidemics, improve the capability of treating critically ill patients, and reserve a certain number of facilities and equipment for emergency, the NDRC said.

Local governments should make sound use of funds from different sources, adjust fiscal expenditure and investment structure, and ensure that the funds for the construction of epidemic prevention and control facilities are fully in place, according to the NDRC.