Hey there, health enthusiasts! 🌟 China's on a mission to put health first, and it's kind of a big deal. With over 20% of its population aged over 60, the Chinese mainland is shifting gears to focus more on preventing diseases and managing health, rather than just treating illnesses.
This \"health-first strategy\" was spotlighted in a recent key reform adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee. What's the buzz all about? Let's dive in! 🏊♂️
According to Gordon G. Liu, dean at the Institute for Global Health and Development at Peking University, this shift is something many countries experience as they develop. \"In an aging society, people want high-quality health management, chronic disease care, and long-term support,\" he says.
So, what's China doing about it? For starters, they're boosting their abilities to monitor diseases, give early warnings, assess risks, and respond to emergencies. Think of it like upgrading from basic antivirus software to a full-on security suite! 🛡️
They've rolled out action plans to tackle four major chronic diseases that cause over 80% of deaths in the country. This includes helping people with diabetes prevent complications and ramping up screenings for respiratory diseases.
China's also offering early cancer screenings for many common types, with nearly 200 million women getting checked for cervical and breast cancer. That's some serious girl power! 💪
On the epidemic front, they've set up a direct reporting system covering about 84,000 medical institutions. Health authorities are working to make this system even smarter to catch risks early on.
But wait, there's more! China is expanding family doctor services and insurance plans to provide care right in people's homes. Imagine having medical support as convenient as ordering takeout! 🍜
All these efforts require teamwork across different sectors. The resolution emphasizes the need for \"coordinated development and governance of medical services, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals.\" It's like assembling the Avengers of healthcare! 🦸♂️
This approach takes inspiration from successful reforms in the city of Sanming in Fujian Province, which has become a model for the whole country.
Zhan Jifu, who led the medical reform in Sanming, believes this collaboration guides medical practices to better meet people's desires for healthier lives. Liu adds that reforming medical insurance systems should go hand in hand with improving services. He suggests exploring new payment methods to encourage doctors to bring their expertise into communities and homes, not just hospitals.
In a nutshell, China's \"health-first strategy\" is all about proactive care, community involvement, and making health services more accessible. And who knows? This might just set a trend that other countries will want to follow! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
China deepens medical reform through 'health-first strategy'
cgtn.com
