On September 12, the State Council Information Office held a press conference where Lei Haichao, the Director of the National Health Commission (NHC), shared some impressive news: the health literacy level among Chinese residents has jumped from 17% in 2018 to 29.7% in 2023. This five-year span marks a significant increase of nearly 13 percentage points.
During the press event in Beijing, which was part of a series focusing on “Promoting High-Quality Development,” Lei was joined by key figures including Wang Hesheng, the Deputy Director of the NHC and Director of the National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau; Yu Xuejun, another Deputy Director; and Yu Yanhong, a member of the NHC’s Party Leadership Group who also directs the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Together, they provided insights into current health initiatives and addressed questions from the press.
Lei stressed the essential role health plays as a crucial component of human capital that supports development, stating that good health is vital for achieving high-quality economic and social progress. He highlighted that the central government is placing great importance on health development strategies. Through various initiatives like the Healthy China Action, the Patriotic Health Campaign, and public health service projects, significant strides have been made in enhancing residents’ health literacy.
Firstly, Lei pointed out a substantial rise in personal health awareness. He noted the ongoing need for health education, especially in light of an aging population, declining birth rates, and evolving lifestyles. Teaching the public to recognize and mitigate health risks in their daily lives and workplaces while promoting healthy behaviors has become increasingly important. The NHC has worked closely with local health departments and sectors of Traditional Chinese Medicine to boost the dissemination of health information.
Secondly, the overall health of the population has seen considerable improvement. Numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare services have prioritized making health resources more accessible within communities, simplifying the process for individuals seeking medical assistance. Specific health challenges affecting key demographics, such as vision issues in schoolchildren and abnormal blood metrics in middle-aged and older adults, have been targeted through focused health interventions and education campaigns. For instance, the prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents decreased by 1.7 percentage points, dropping from 51.9% in 2018 to 2022 due to shared efforts in education and health promotion. Additionally, progress in addressing occupational health issues has resulted in a 48.6% decline in newly reported cases of occupational diseases since 2018.
Thirdly, there have been ongoing improvements in environmental health and the management of major diseases. Initiatives aimed at reducing environmental pollution have led to enhancements in air, water, and soil quality through ecological projects. Furthermore, advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes, have contributed to a reduction in premature mortality rates from these diseases, which fell from 17.36% in 2018 to 15% in 2023.
Looking forward, Lei emphasized a recent shift towards a “health-first development strategy” following the Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session. The National Health Commission is dedicated to thoroughly understanding and implementing these central policies across various sectors, including development planning, government funding, and social governance. Their goal is to ensure that protecting and improving public health becomes a priority and measurable objective in economic and social development. The commission is also exploring legislative actions to establish health impact assessments while advancing health initiatives and collaborative governance to effectively realize the policies outlined in the recent plenary session.
