Hou recalls a female patient, surnamed Teng, who came for medical treatment after months of coughing.

"When she came to the hospital, it was quite severe," Hou said. "At first, she did not take her cough seriously and did not have time for a medical check as she spent most of her day working."

Hou also donated 300 medical cards to the city government during the hearing, which will be distributed to street cleaners in Wuhan. These will allow street cleaners to have medical consultations and checkups for free.

The hospital also set up a tea room especially for street cleaners who come for medical consultations, so they can sit and have a hot drink while waiting.

Smoggy weather in Wuhan was especially severe this year, and the city government issued Level 3 air pollution warnings for the third time this winter, with the air quality index reaching 359 on Jan 4.

Some other city level members also submitted proposals calling for more care for those working outdoors.

Zhang Yimin, a political adviser in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and also department head of the city's labor union, said in his proposals that the government and companies should provide more care for those working outdoors.

"I think those companies should give more professional equipment to those working outdoors," he said.

"Most street cleaners only have ordinary masks that protect them from dust. The government, as well as the companies they serve, should prepare them with better protection to reduce harm to them."