-Numbers- tell the story of the high-quality development of my country’s health industry. The average life expectancy of residents will reach 78.6 years in 2023

On September 12, the State Council Information Office hosted a press conference focused on “Promoting High-Quality Development.” During this event, a representative from the National Health Commission shared insights into the remarkable advancements in China’s health sector since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party.

As of 2023, the average life expectancy for Chinese citizens has increased to 78.6 years, reflecting a rise of over three years since 2012. There’s been substantial growth in national health initiatives, with the number of health cities reaching 1,052 and health counties totaling 2,637. Additionally, per capita expenditure on basic public health services surged from 15 yuan in 2009 to 94 yuan this year. Health literacy among residents has also shown a consistent upward trend, while premature death rates from major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular illnesses, have steadily declined. The nation has established 125 national regional medical centers and 114 provincial medical centers, and monitoring data reveals that 92% of county-level hospitals have now attained the service capabilities of secondary hospitals.

Lei Haichao, the director of the National Health Commission, emphasized, “90.9% of counties have achieved full coverage of personnel from county hospitals stationed at township health clinics. This means that nearly 91% of counties have staff providing long-term services in townships. We require that these personnel commit to a service period of no less than six months, with regular rotations to ensure that communities have access to qualified professionals. By the end of next year, we anticipate that over 90% of counties will have established county-level medical consortia, enhancing collaboration and integration among different levels of care compared to previous years. This will facilitate better cooperation, more streamlined information sharing, and increased personnel exchanges, ultimately leading to improved grassroots healthcare services.”