Development of China's Public Health as an Essential Element of Human Rights

White Paper

(September 2017)

The State Council Information Office of
the People's Republic of China

Development of China's Public Health as an Essential Element of Human Rights

Contents

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Health is a precondition for the survival of humanity and the development of human society. The right to health is a basic human right rich in connotations. It is the guarantee for a life with dignity. Everyone is entitled to the highest standard of health, equally available and accessible.

I. Ensuring People's Right to Health Based on China's Conditions

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I. Ensuring People's Right to Health Based on China's Conditions

China is a large developing country with 1.3 billion people. The CPC and the Chinese government have always attached great importance to developing the medical and health services, to transforming the development model of the health sector, and to respecting and protecting citizens' right to health. A mechanism based on China's conditions to ensure the people's right to health has been put in place.

II. Continuous Improvement of Health Environment and Conditions

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II. Continuous Improvement of Health Environment and Conditions

China is keen to promote a healthy lifestyle, national fitness and health education, protect food and drinking water safety, and improve the environment for production, people's life, ecology and society in order to better guarantee the Chinese people's right to health.

III. Public Health Service Capability Improving Steadily

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III. Public Health Service Capability Improving Steadily

The Chinese government gives priority to prevention while combining prevention with treatment, and makes great efforts to ensure the people's equal access to public health services. It devotes great efforts to preventing and controlling epidemic, chronic and endemic diseases, strengthening the quick response capacity on public health emergencies, and developing an increasingly equal and universal basic public health service system.

IV. Great Improvement in the Quality of Medical and Health Services

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IV. Great Improvement in the Quality of Medical and Health Services

China is committed to improving the accessibility and convenience of medical and health resources, and the quality and efficiency of medical services at the same time. It aims to accelerate the building of an integrated medical and health service system of good quality and high efficiency, and improve the medicine supply system. More and more people are satisfied with their visits to hospitals.

V. Improvement of the National Medical Security System

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V. Improvement of the National Medical Security System

China has been vigorously improving its national medical security system. Now a multi-layered and wide-ranging medical security system covers the whole population, mainly supported by basic medical security, and supplemented by various forms of supplementary insurance and commercial health insurance. The country has preliminarily realized basic healthcare for every citizen.

VI. Significant Improvement in the Health of Special Groups

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VI. Significant Improvement in the Health of Special Groups

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of the right to health of special groups such as women, children, the elderly and the disabled. It constantly improves health programs, and provides diversified and targeted health services to meet the special needs of various groups in a non-discriminatory and equal manner.

VII. Active Participation in Global Health Governance and International Medical Assistance

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VII. Active Participation in Global Health Governance and International Medical Assistance

China advocates, promotes and carries out international medical and health cooperation. It is firmly committed to realizing the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially sustainable development goals relating to health.

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Conclusion

The CPC and the Chinese government earnestly respect and protect people's right to health, and consider safeguarding people's health as a basic task of governance. Significant actions have been taken, aiming to benefit people both in the present and the future. China has achieved great success in health affairs, making an important contribution to the sustainable development of mankind.

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Major Indicators for the Healthy China Program

Sphere: health status Indicator: life expectancy

2015: 76.34 2020: 77.3 2030: 79.0

Sphere: health status Indicator: infant mortality rate (per thousand)

2015: 8.1 2020: 7.5 2030: 5.0

Sphere: health status Indicator: under five mortality rate (per thousand)

2015: 10.7 2020: 9.5 2030: 6.0

Sphere: health status Indicator: maternal death rate (1/100,000)2015: 20.1 2020: 18.0 2030: 12.0 Sphere: health status Indicator: the proportion of residents who reach or exceed the National Physical Fitness Evaluation Standards (%) 2015: 89.6 (2014) 2020: 90.6 2030: 92.2