On September 25, the National Bureau of Statistics unveiled the latest in its series of reports detailing the progress of economic and social development in New China over the past 75 years. Since its inception, the country has made remarkable progress in reforming and developing its health and medical services, continuously refining its healthcare system while also embracing the unique strengths of traditional Chinese medicine. The government has bolstered public health services to ensure that coverage reaches everyone. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, there has been a noticeable improvement in population health, paving a distinctly Chinese path for healthcare reform and development.
Over the last 75 years, China’s healthcare system has significantly strengthened, with service capabilities steadily on the rise. The total healthcare resources have seen substantial increases, highlighted by the explosive growth in medical institutions and hospital beds. For example, the number of medical facilities skyrocketed from just 3,670 institutions and 85,000 beds in 1949 to more than 1.07 million institutions and 10.17 million beds by 2023, reflecting increases of 290.8 times and 119.3 times, respectively. As of the end of 2023, there are 1.02 million grassroots healthcare institutions, accounting for an impressive 94.9% of all healthcare facilities in the nation.
Moreover, the capacity for medical insurance continues to expand. By the close of 2023, basic health insurance had reached 1.33 billion people, with coverage remaining stable at over 95% since 2018. To combat poverty stemming from healthcare costs and provide support to those affected, China established a medical guarantee mechanism. In 2023, medical assistance funds aided 80.2 million people in accessing basic health insurance, and the enrollment rate for low-income rural populations consistently exceeded 99%. Comprehensive insurance assistance policies, including basic medical and critical illness insurance, supported 190 million low-income rural residents, alleviating their medical expenses by a staggering 188.4 billion yuan.
Additionally, the implementation of the Healthy China strategy over the past 75 years has resulted in China achieving a high overall health level, placing it among the top middle and high-income countries globally, with life expectancy on the rise. According to the National Health Commission, life expectancy in China reached 78.6 years in 2023.
This conversation highlights the impressive healthcare advancements made since the founding of New China, showcasing a steadfast commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of its population.
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