Objective This paper aims to make clear the post-disaster medical needs of residents in the disaster areas and changes among the poor population, for the purpose of policy recommendations on post-disaster medical assistance. Methods Such methods as in-home questionnaire survey and literature study were used to study the income, prevalence rate and mental health of 4 380 households in 10 counties (cities and districts) in the disaster areas. Results In the hardest hit areas, 80. 4% and 52. 8% of residents in rural and urban areas are dependent on government relief respectively;the proportion of poor population resulting from the disaster rose from 5% before the disaster to over 75% afterwards in the hard-hit areas, while such a population rose to 15% in the hardest-hit areas and about 10% in general disaster areas;It is estimated that the new medical aid funds in Sichuan Province will reach 350 million yuan, two-fold that of the budget for 2009;In the hardest hit areas, the two-week prevalence rate per thousand people is twice that found in the third survey of health services in 2003, characterized of acute respiratory illness and rheumatoid;In the hardest-hit areas, nearly 70% of the residents are exposed to high mental health risks. Conclusion Recommendations: Strengthening the raising and use of medical aid fund;dynamic management for the population in need of post-disaster medical aid;Developing appropriate medical aid packages to fit post-disaster health needs and postdisaster disease characteristics;and consolidating the connection between medical aid and primary medical insurance system.

By means of field survey and expert consultation, the paper made a summary of the experiences learnt from medical aid in Wenchuan Earthquake, along with problems found. The summary and assessment covered the disaster-caused casualty and health among local residents, cost estimates for post-disaster medical aid, and targeted measures to improve medical aid plans. In addition, the authors proposed to emphasize the uniqueness of earthquake disasters and develop pre-plans in this regard, as well as such mid-and long-term plans for the promotion of disaster medicine, development of disaster medicine talents, upgrading of emergency medical rescue skills of medical staff, and volunteers management systems.