Public input sought on health rules

Shenzhen has released a draft of the city’s health regulations and is soliciting public opinions until Aug. 5, the city’s health commission said Thursday.

In the draft regulations, “health” refers not only to physical and mental health, but also good social adaptability.

According to the regulations, the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors is prohibited in Shenzhen.

If it is difficult to determine whether a person has reached adulthood, the seller shall require the buyer to show an ID card; if the buyer is unable to present their ID card, the seller shall not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages to the buyer.

The sale of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited within 50 meters of the entrance and exit of medical and health institutions, social welfare institutions for minors, primary and secondary schools and youth service institutions, as well as in vending machines.

Those who violate the rule will be ordered by the market supervisory authority to make corrections and be fined 30,000 yuan (US$4,290).

The regulation requires schools to arrange more than one hour for students to participate in sports activities every day and ensure that students can participate in more than two types of sports. Health education courses should not be less than six hours per semester.

Additionally, schools should set up rooms for mental health counseling and be staffed with full-time or part-time psychology teachers and counselors, establish a mental health assessment, early warning and intervention mechanism for students, and promote psychological testing in student health checks.

Shenzhen will formulate nutrition standards for school meals.

Meanwhile, school meal distribution companies, and canteens of primary and secondary schools and preschool education institutions, are required to be staffed with nutritionists and restrict the supply of foods high in salt, oil and sugar.

The regulations also said that the expenses of basic health checks will be covered by health insurance once a year per person. For other health checks, the expenses will be jointly paid by the employer and the employee. The payment ratio shall be agreed upon by the two parties.

Employers should also reasonably allocate human resources and arrange the work and break time of employees, said the regulations.

Meanwhile, they should schedule rotating shifts for employees with heavy mental or physical workloads.