Public health emergencies are a direct threat to people's lives and health, and have become a hot issue of general concern to society. The emergency management system plays a key role in the response to public health emergencies. This paper focuses on the experience of three typical countries in emergency management systems for public health emergencies, and objectively analyses the shortcomings of emergency management systems for public health emergencies in China. On this basis, specific suggestions are made to improve the national emergency management system for public health emergencies in five areas: consolidating the rule of law for emergency management of public health emergencies; establishing a centralised, unified and efficient emergency command system; strengthening the comprehensive coordination capacity of various departments and clarifying their functions; co‐ordinating the deployment and improving the level of public health emergency supplies; strengthening the introduction of professional and technical talents and enhancing the scientific and technological support capacity of public health. The Government should also strengthen the introduction of professional and technical personnel and enhance public health science and technology support capacity.