In the Next Five Years, the State Will Bring Medical Resources Closer to Your Doorstep: An Easy-to-Understand Explanation of Changes in Childbirth, Elderly Care, and Access to Mental Health Services
Hello everyone, I'm your financial journalist and friend who also specializes in economic analysis. Today, we're not talking about stock market fluctuations or which company made a profit, but about something that affects each of us and every family: What changes will there be in accessing healthcare, having children, caring for the elderly, and seeing a psychologist in the next five years?
On September 14th, the National Health Commission held a very important press conference. In short, the state has recognized that although our current healthcare system is strong, there are still some shortcomings and resources that need to be better distributed. Over the next five years (during the 14th Five-Year Plan period), the state plans to make significant adjustments and improvements.
To make it easier for everyone to understand, I've broken down the news into five key areas and explained them in plain language.
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1. Having Children Will No Longer Be Just a Personal Matter: The State Will Help Reduce Burdens and Provide Support
In the past, people found it difficult to have children due to high costs, a lack of childcare options, and a shortage of medical facilities. The strongest message from this press conference is that the state is committed to turning support for childbirth from mere slogans into tangible benefits and services.
1. Financial Support: Expanded Medical Insurance Coverage
Previously, many families had to pay tens of thousands of yuan out of pocket for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Now, all 31 provinces in the country have included IVF in their medical insurance coverage.
- Statistics: In the first half of 2026, more than 1.7 million people used medical insurance for IVF, with the insurance fund covering over 1.9 billion yuan.
- Future Prospects: The National Medical Insurance Administration estimates that by 2026, nearly 300,000 babies will be born with the support of medical insurance. This means that the financial barrier for families wanting to have children has been significantly reduced.
2. Childcare Services Will Be More Accessible
The biggest challenge after having a child is finding someone to take care of them. The state plans to increase the enrollment rate of children under three years old in childcare centers by 6 percentage points by 2030.
- How? Instead of relying on expensive private childcare in big cities, the state will support the establishment of childcare facilities in communities and even at workplaces.
- Subsidies in Place: Last year, more than 30 million families received childcare subsidies. These subsidies will be further expanded over the next five years to directly reduce the cost of raising children.
3. Better Maternal and Child Health Facilities in Every Province
Previously, only big cities had the best maternity and pediatric services. In the next five years, the state requires that every province have at least one high-quality maternal and child health facility. This ensures that you can receive top-notch care for both you and your baby without having to travel to Beijing or Shanghai.
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2. The Approach to Healthcare Has Changed: From Focusing on Serious Illnesses to Preventing Minor Health Issues
Our healthcare system used to be like a firefighter, responding only when something serious happened, especially in large hospitals, which were always overcrowded. In the next five years, the state will prioritize prevention over treatment.
1. Maternal and Child Health: From Surviving to Living Well
The maternal mortality rate has already dropped to 13.4 per 100,000 births, and the infant mortality rate to 3.8 per 10,000 births, which is leading among countries with a population of over 100 million. The state aims to further reduce these numbers by 2030.
- Key Measures: Free HPV vaccinations for girls of appropriate age, early screening for breast and cervical cancer, and more.
- Early Pregnancy Care: There are now over 12,000 early pregnancy care clinics across the country, making it easy to get professional care from the moment you become pregnant.
2. Managing Chronic Diseases at Home
Many elderly people struggle with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The state will promote classified and tiered health management through community and secondary hospital doctors, with personalized treatment plans based on the severity of the condition.
- Cost Savings: New national drug lists and medical insurance policies cover chronic and elderly diseases, making it more affordable to receive care at local clinics.
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3. A Major Shift in Medical Resources: Secondary Hospitals and Community Health Centers Will Become More Powerful
This is one of the core aspects of the reform. People often think that only large hospitals are reliable, while community hospitals are just for basic treatments. In the next five years, this will change.
1. Why the Shift?
Due to the changing population structure (more elderly people and fewer young people), the state needs to distribute resources more evenly.
- Pediatric Services Expanded: 90% of community and township health centers already offer pediatric care. This year, another 1,000 additional centers will be added, with the goal of reaching over 95% by the end of the year. So, you won't have to wait for hours in long queues at large hospitals for a child's illness.
2. Secondary Hospitals Will Focus on Mental and Psychological Health
Secondary hospitals will develop specialized services in mental health, rehabilitation, and nursing, covering areas that large hospitals and community centers cannot handle well.
- New Services: These hospitals will also provide palliative care for the elderly, ensuring a comfortable and dignified end of life.
3. In One Sentence:
Large hospitals will handle emergencies and complex cases; secondary hospitals will provide comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation; community and township hospitals will handle routine care, chronic disease management, and prevention.
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4. Mental Health Services Are Moving to the Forefront
This might be the most surprising but also the most urgent aspect of the reform. In the past, seeing a psychologist was often seen as a luxury or even taboo, with many counties lacking mental health clinics.
1. The Current Situation:
Director Lei Haichao pointed out that more than 40 cities lack specialized mental health hospitals, and many counties have no mental health clinics at all. However, the need for mental health services is increasing.
- Future Plans: The state will build more mental health facilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. By the end of July, 149 counties had already established mental health services, exceeding the annual target. More facilities will be added.
- Expanded Services: Public mental health hospitals will offer a range of services, including counseling for children and adolescents, sleep disorders, and crisis intervention.
- De-stigmatization: These facilities will be rebranded to make mental health care more accessible, just like getting your blood pressure checked.
3. Why It Matters:
Mental health is essential for overall well-being. If someone has mental health issues, it can affect their physical health. Making mental health services more accessible means you can get the help you need without feeling embarrassed, right in your community.
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5. The Healthcare System Must Adapt to Population Changes
The National Health Commission also discussed how the healthcare system needs to adapt to the changing population. Although China's population is declining, it still has about 8 million newborns each year.
- Changing Demographics and Changing Medical Needs: With more elderly people, there's a growing demand for chronic disease and elderly care services.
- Regional Differences: Medical resources need to be allocated according to local population trends.
- Full Life Cycle Support: The state aims to provide comprehensive health care throughout the life cycle, from birth to old age.
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In Summary, What Does This Mean for Us?
1. More Convenient Healthcare: Minor and common illnesses will be treated in community and secondary hospitals, reducing the need to go to large hospitals.
2. Affordable and Peaceful Childbirth: Expanded medical insurance and more childcare options will lower the costs and concerns associated with having children.
3. More Access to Mental Health: Seeing a psychologist will become as common as getting a check-up, with professional services available in communities.
4. Dignified Elderly Care: Better care for the elderly, including support for those with disabilities and end-of-life care, will become standard.
In one sentence: In the next five years, the state will bring medical resources closer to your home, shifting the focus from treating illnesses to preventing them and from focusing only on the body to caring for both body and mind. This is a profound transformation designed to help us all live healthier, more calmly, and with more dignity.