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The top leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted a plan aiming to build a healthy China in the next 15 years on Aug. 26.

A child of Miao ethnic minority receives measles vaccine at a vaccination site in Multi-ethnic Autonomous County of Longlin, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2010. [file photo]

The blueprint, called "Healthy China 2030," was passed at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over by General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee.

The "Healthy China 2030" plan is an important effort to implement the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and to improve people's health, attendees at the meeting said.

In the meantime, it is also important in China's efforts to engage in global health governance and implement the country's commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Xi Jinping urged comprehensive efforts to promote people's all-round health while talking about the Healthy China strategy at a national meeting on health held in Beijing also in August.

"An all-round moderately prosperous society cannot be achieved without people's all-round health," Xi said, calling for society to exert more effort to promote healthy lifestyles, improve health services, strengthen health protection, create healthy environments and advance health industries.

The meeting ushered in a new era in which public health will be given priority in the national development strategy, commented Wang Longde, chairman of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association.

Much achieved

China has achieved great progress in the health sector since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

From 1949 to 2015, China's average life expectancy surged from 35 to over 76, its infant mortality rate dropped from 20 percent to 0.81 percent and the maternal mortality rate dropped from 1,500 of every 100,000 to about 20 of every 100,000.

The country launched a new round of medical reforms in 2009. In April 2015, a new guideline on public hospital reform was endorsed. In December, the country decided to merge its medical insurance schemes for urban and rural residents in a bid to guarantee equal access to basic healthcare. A system of family doctors is now being rolled out nationwide, which is expected to cover all citizens by 2020.

More to be done

Despite the achievements, the health of the Chinese people is under multiple risks posed by industrialization, urbanization, population aging and changes in the environment and people's lifestyles.

"China is facing health problems that occur in developing countries as well as developed countries," the president pointed out.

To ensure that all people enjoy the health benefits, Xi urged authorities at all levels to consider public health when drafting policies. He called for innovation and reform in promoting health work and stressed that efforts should focus on the grassroots level while the quality of basic medical services should be further improved.

Talking about the reform of the country's health and medicine systems, Xi called for breakthroughs in five areas: modern hospital management, medical insurance, medicine supply, comprehensive supervision, and a diagnosis and treatment mechanism based on the severity of illnesses. He specifically ordered a severe crackdown on health-related crimes, especially violence targeting health workers.

Premier Li Keqiang said at the meeting that more health resources should be allocated to rural and impoverished regions, and promised that the government would guide financial institutions to offer greater support to the health industry while striving to make it a pillar industry in the national economy.

Global engagement

China has made great headway in fulfilling its international duties and participating in global health governance, demonstrating the image of a humanitarian and responsible power, Xi said.

"We will actively participate in research and discussion concerning the making of international standards and criteria for health-related fields, and improve our country's work mechanism to offer assistance in major international public health emergencies," Xi stated, vowing in particular to strengthen health cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road routes.

Belt and Road, an umbrella term for the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to instill vigor and vitality into the ancient Silk Road by connecting Asian, European and African countries.

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