Xing Huina:

The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before raising your questions.

Health News:

How has public health in China changed since the launch of the Healthy China Initiative? Moreover, the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed a health-first development strategy. How does this relate to the Healthy China Initiative? Thank you.

Lei Haichao:

Thank you for your questions. I'll take them. Health is a crucial form of human capital and the cornerstone of development. Without it, development is impossible. That's why health is integral to China's high-quality economic and social development. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have made health a top priority. Through efforts like the Healthy China Initiative, patriotic health campaigns, and basic public health services, we've achieved significant improvements in public health awareness and literacy. Let me highlight a few key points.

First, personal health awareness has significantly improved. We've consistently promoted health education, addressing challenges like an aging population, declining birth rates and changing lifestyles. It's crucial to teach people how to avoid health risks in daily life, work, and their environment, as well as to encourage them to adopt healthy habits. One key message we emphasize is that everyone is the first person responsible for their health. To support this, the NHC, collaborating with local health authorities, disease control centers and traditional Chinese medicine agencies, has implemented frequent health education campaigns. I'm pleased to report that health literacy in China has increased from 17% in 2018 to 29.7% in 2023, an increase of nearly 13 percentage points in five years. This is a significant achievement.

Second, the overall health of the population has significantly improved. Through the Healthy China Initiative, we've enhanced medical services, especially by bringing health care closer to people's homes, making it more accessible. We've also targeted key groups with specific health concerns. For example, we've tackled issues like myopia, obesity and malnutrition in schoolchildren, as well as high cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure among middle-aged and older people, through lifestyle interventions and health education. The myopia rate among children and teenagers decreased to 51.9% in 2022, down 1.7 percentage points from 2018. Thanks to joint efforts from the education, health care, and media sectors, we've halted the worsening trend of myopia rates among youth and continue to build on this success. Additionally, we've improved workplace health by addressing occupational diseases. This includes enhancing work environments to reduce conditions like occupational hearing loss and respiratory illnesses. In 2023, newly reported cases of occupational diseases dropped by 48.6% compared to 2018. For the elderly, we've promoted health education, improved nutrition and enhanced dental care. Through the combined efforts of maternal and child health workers and society at large, the under-5 mortality rate fell to 6.2 per 1,000 in 2023, and the maternal mortality rate dropped to 15.1 per 100,000. These are the best figures we've ever recorded in China, matching the levels of advanced middle- to high-income countries globally.

Third, the impact of the environment and major diseases on public health has been steadily reduced and controlled. In recent years, through efforts to promote ecological progress and address environmental pollution, key environmental indicators such as air, water and soil quality have significantly improved, leading to a higher quality of life for the public. Additionally, we have strengthened early diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. As a result, the premature mortality rate from major chronic diseases dropped from 17.36% in 2018 to 15% in 2023.

The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee advanced the proposal to implement a health-first development strategy. Moving forward, we will diligently carry out the decisions and arrangements of the central authorities, thoroughly studying the strategic priorities, specific policies, and implementation measures of the health-first strategy. In particular, we will focus on refining governance policies and regulations in areas such as development planning, government investment, and social governance to achieve the goals of the health-first strategy. Moreover, we will make ensuring and improving public health a key objective and metric of socioeconomic development, and we will work to establish a health impact assessment system through legislation. In addition, we will continue to push forward the Healthy China Initiative, patriotic health campaigns, and the creation of healthy villages while promoting stronger collaboration and integration between hospitals and disease prevention and control institutions as well as public participation. The conducive policies and decisions laid out at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will be effectively implemented in our practical work. Thank you.