Statement of Health Minister of China on Striving for Healthy China

Source: en.nhfpc.gov.cn

Updated: 2015-11-05

The 5th Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee has adopted the Proposal to Develop the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which set the new goal of “boosting the construction of Healthy China” to protect all people’s health and achieve long-term prosperity. The Proposal also makes an institutional arrangement to satisfy new expectations of health, highlighting the great attention and sincere commitment of the Party and the central government to protecting people’s health.

Health is not only the basis for personal development and happiness but also an important measurement of national prosperity and people’s well-being. President Xi Jinping emphasizes that without universal health, it would never be possible to achieve a moderately prosperous. With the improvement of our national strength and people’s living standards, the public has never been yearning for health so strongly. Boosting the development of a healthy China and providing equitable basic healthcare services will promote social equity and justice and enable all citizens to enjoy the achievements of development. They demonstrate our Party’s mission to always prioritize people’s interests and govern for the people. They are also the necessary pillars of health to achieve the “Two Centennial Goals”.

Ever since the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan, especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, China’s health has gained fast development. The deepened healthcare reform has made headway and yielded remarkable results. The total volume of health care resources continues to rise and equity in basic health care services has improved by a large margin. Facilities of basic health care services have improved tremendously and service quality, efficiency and people’s satisfaction have risen. The economic burden caused by household diseases has been reduced and the national health level has reached that of middle and high-income countries.

To boost the construction of Healthy China involves every facet of society and concerns the happiness of every Chinese family and individual. It is a systematic process which requires the country to take a strategic perspective and address significant and long-lasting problems in national health at present and in the future. This requires the joint efforts of all sectors and wide participation of the whole society.

We will take “boosting the construction of Healthy China” as a momentous opportunity to carry out the spirit of the 18th Party Congress, the 3rd, 4th and 5th plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the important speeches by President Xi Jinping. Centered on the “Four Comprehensives” we will unswervingly provide every citizen with the basic health care system as public goods. More attention should be paid to institutional innovation, prevention and health promotion. We will enhance the quality of basic health care services, give full play to grassroots healthcare workers and provide them with more resources.

A sound national health insurance scheme will be established to lessen economic burdens. Health care services will be improved by advancing technology and services to satisfy people’s needs.

We will provide better prevention and treatment for major diseases such as infectious, chronic and endemic diseases and occupational hazards.

Equal attention will be paid to traditional Chinese and Western medicines, and traditional Chinese and national minority medicines will be promoted. Their unique strengths will be explored to promote innovation in medical science and technology. We will vigorously develop health care services to provide safe, effective, convenient and affordable medical and public health services.

We should uphold the broad concept of health and compile an evidence-based Healthy China Development Plan that outlines the future implementation of important policies, projects and programs.

Emphasizing the core role of health, we will advocate healthy lifestyles and improve health literacy. We will highlight the driving forces of outstanding problems and real needs to integrate health into all policies of economic and social development. It is indeed our due responsibility to generate more well-being for our people and contribute to the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.