Big data to aid in fighting rare diseases

Health authorities target birth defects, say domestic drugs would cost less

Health authorities will step up efforts to reduce the incidence of rare diseases and improve diagnosis and treatment, a senior health official said ahead of Rare Disease Day, which falls on the last day of February.

"We will try to further reduce inherited birth defects that lead to rare diseases," Jiao Yahui, deputy chief of medical administration and supervision at the National Health Commission, said at a news conference on Wednesday.