China is taking substantial steps to enhance its healthcare system through the Healthy China Initiative, focusing on expanding access to affordable medical services across its vast population of over 1.4 billion. Spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, this initiative aims to direct more medical resources to community-level institutions, making quality healthcare accessible both in urban and rural areas.
The government has implemented a series of reforms targeting hospital management, medical insurance, medicine supplies, healthcare supervision, and tiered medical services. These changes are designed to enable treatment of serious illnesses within provincial borders, manage common conditions in cities or counties, and address routine health issues at local facilities. As part of this effort, 125 national regional medical centers have been developed, primarily in central and western regions with limited advanced medical resources.
Preventive healthcare is also a significant focus, particularly for children and older adults. The country’s efforts to combat childhood myopia have led to a reduction in the student myopia rate, which dropped to 49.9 percent in 2025, marking a 3.7 percentage point decrease from 2018. Additionally, China’s average life expectancy rose to 79.25 years by 2025, and there has been progress in controlling major infectious and endemic diseases, alongside a decline in the premature mortality rate from major chronic conditions to 13.8 percent.
Emphasizing innovation, China is advancing its healthcare strategy through digital healthcare, artificial intelligence applications, and the development of domestic medicines and medical technologies. In the first half of 2026, the country approved 38 innovative drugs, underscoring its commitment to medical and pharmaceutical development. Traditional Chinese medicine continues to play a crucial role, with efforts to modernize and promote international cooperation.
With an aim to establish a comprehensive healthcare system by 2035, aligned with broader modernization goals, China faces the ongoing challenge of improving service quality, affordability, and access. As the population ages and healthcare needs diversify, the government remains focused on overcoming these hurdles to ensure a healthier future for its citizens.