Public hospital reforms boosting health care efficiency in China

There were 5.11 billion hospital visits by people seeking medical care at China's medical and health institutions from January to September this year, making the efficiency of medical and health supply has been improved, an official at China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday at a press conference.

The number has increased by 12.4 percent compared with the same period in 2019 and 6 percent last year, according to Lei Haichao, deputy head of the NHC.

Lei attributed the benefits to the reform and high-quality development of public hospitals.

To improve the accessibility and equalization of medical services and deliver high-quality medical services, China has established 13 national medical centers specializing in fields like cancer, cardiovascular and trauma medicine and launched 125 regional medical center projects, he said.

In addition, major infectious diseases affecting residents' health, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis and parasitic diseases, have been brought under control, according to Wang Hesheng, deputy head of NHC and chief of the national administration of disease prevention and control.

According to Wang, HIV/AIDS has been kept at a low epidemic level; the treatment coverage rate has exceeded 90 percent, and the success rate among infected people has exceeded 95 percent.

He said the transmission of AIDS via blood transfusions and other blood products has been basically blocked. Meanwhile, mother-to-child transmission and HIV transmission through injective drug use have been effectively controlled.

Wang also noted that the country's tuberculosis morbidity rate has fallen to 2.1 per 100,000 people, which is the same level as developed countries, and the treatment success rate remains above 90 percent.