China.org.cn | November 3, 2020
Fourth, we have made efforts to ensure that rural poor people have access to basic medical services. The health and medical assistance program for poverty alleviation has achieved notably effective results. We focused our efforts on three aspects, namely, health service capacity building in county hospitals; integrated management of health personnel in medical institutions at a county and township level, as well as at a township and village level; and the standardization of township health centers and village clinics. We also ensured that qualified county-level hospitals in poverty-stricken counties have been incorporated into the National Health Security Project and organized medical teams from Grade III (top-level) hospitals to assist county-level hospitals in poverty-stricken counties. A telemedicine service system has been put in place to cover all the national-level impoverished counties and remote areas. The list of diseases covered by a special aid and treatment program for rural poverty-stricken populations suffering from serious illnesses has been expanded to 30 types. The country has provided categorized treatment to over 19 million poverty-stricken people. Nearly 10 million families across China who fell into the clutches of poverty due to illness have shaken off their state of destitution.
Fifth, the level of equal access to basic public health services has been further enhanced, advancing the overall strength of public health in China to a new stage. Annual per-person government subsidies for basic public health services were raised from 40 yuan in 2015 to 74 yuan this year. The national basic public health service program has provided 14 categories of services for free to all urban and rural residents. We also improved major infectious disease control measures, implemented a three-year action plan for the critical battles against occupational and endemic diseases, further expanded the scope of the national immunization program, and ensured the program for early diagnosis and early treatment of cancer to cover more people. In 2019, the rate of premature deaths from major chronic diseases was reduced by 10.8% compared with that in 2015.
Sixth, the management of maternity and child care and family planning services has been further enhanced. The method of healthy aging has been actively promoted. We made changes to our birth policy in an orderly way to improve it. In 2019, 59.5% of China's newborn babies were not the first child in their respective family. Meanwhile, we improved relevant coordinated policies to advance care services for infants under three-years-old. We also comprehensively strengthened and integrated the prevention and treatment of birth defects and piloted screening, diagnosis and rehabilitation for five categories of disabilities among children. Moreover, we enhanced old-age health education, prevention and healthcare services and promoted combined medical and care services for the elderly. More than 40,000 institutions have provided medical assistance to senior citizens who opt to stay at home. All Chinese over 65 years old have been provided free annual physical examinations.
Seventh, we have improved policies and mechanisms that will further unleash vitality. New advances have been made in the preservation and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued guidelines to promote the preservation and innovative development of TCM. The State Council held a national TCM conference. As a result, improvements have been achieved in all respects including the service system building of TCM, training of TCM professionals, technological innovation, and the quality of TCM. There are currently more than 65,000 TCM institutions across the country, providing diagnosis and treatment to about 1.16 billion people annually. TCM and Western medicine have different strengths, while complementing each other with advantages. They work together to protect people from diseases and improve public health.
The ongoing fifth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee is mapping out a national development blueprint for the 14th Five-Year Plan period, as well as for a longer-term vision for 2035. The meeting will also make up a systematic plan to comprehensively deepen the implementation of the Healthy China initiative. We will earnestly apply the guiding principles of the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, implement our tasks in a targeted way, and strive to provide comprehensive lifecycle health services to our people to ensure better health for them.
That's all for my introduction. Now, my colleagues and I are ready to take your questions.