Family planning staff asked to shift focus from enforcement to support

With the change in China's family planning policy, employees at family planning offices nationwide will be more actively engaged in providing maternal health services, a top health official said on Thursday.

"Family planning staff members across China should make adjustments to their roles to match the changes in China's family planning policy and people's increasing demand for a better life," said Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission. "They are expected to be integrated into the overall health service system, and provide more tailored health services to women of childbearing age."

Couples' decisions to have a child have been increasingly affected by factors such as their financial condition and the availability of social resources such as nursery facilities, he said, suggesting that family planning staff can help solve such difficulties so couples' wishes can be met.