A senior health official says construction of China's public health system has gradually improved thanks to increased investment in medical care.

Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang says China earmarked nearly 12 billion yuan, or 1.4 billion US dollars last year on about 2,500 projects aimed at disease prevention.

Gao Qiang adds that the fund was also used for reconstruction and expansion work of disease control and prevention centers at all levels.

Moreover, China has officially initiated a disease reporting network to ensure reporting is more accurate and effective.

He notes that China's public health system successfully dispatched a relief mission to tsunami-hit regions.