In an operating room of a hospital in Shenzhen, a surgical robot deftly performs intricate tasks, from suturing wounds to removing tumors. This is a glimpse into the present and future of healthcare in China.

Deng Wangdong, director of urology at the Longgang District Central Hospital, explains the advantages.

"The robot's endoscope can magnify the surgeon's field of view by 10 times and provide clear, precise 3D images. Its mechanical arms can move as flexibly as a human wrist, allowing it to operate even in confined spaces, increasing overall efficiency by more than threefold," Deng said.

The AI integration extends beyond surgery. At this hospital, patients can use their smartphones for intelligent triage, describing their symptoms to a chatbot that quickly directs them to the appropriate department. 

Even traditional Chinese medicine is getting a tech upgrade, with AI-powered moxibustion robots that accurately locate acupoints and simulate techniques with steady temperature control.

This adoption addresses real-world challenges. "Our community health center serves a population of 48,000. Introducing AI robots helps solve the problem of scarce medical resources and improves the quality and efficiency of our services," said Li Shenqing, director of the Baowen Community Health Center under the Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Group.

Currently, over 450 AI applications are being used across various diagnostic and treatment procedures in Shenzhen.

Widespread AI

The rapid development of AI in healthcare is backed by a national blueprint. China's National Health Commission (NHC) and four other authorities have called for the promotion and regulation of AI in the country's health sector over the coming years, according to a document released on November 4.

By 2027, the plan aims to establish a batch of high-quality health datasets and trusted data spaces, develop specialized clinical AI models for specific diseases and departments, and achieve widespread application of AI-assisted diagnostics in primary care, clinical decision support and patient services.

By 2030, AI-assisted diagnostics in primary care are expected to be nearly universal. Hospitals at or above the secondary level in China's three-tier hospital system will widely adopt AI technologies, such as intelligent medical-imaging diagnosis and clinical decision-making support technologies.

This signifies that in the coming years, AI will be deeply embedded into the entire health service chain, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, rehabilitation and health management.

Enhanced elderly care

These technological leaps are part of a broader national health strategy. In October, NHC Minister Lei Haichao announced China's aim to increase the average life expectancy of its people to around 80 years during the 2026-2030 period. 

This goal builds on a remarkable achievement: by the end of 2024, the average life expectancy had already reached 79 years, a striking feat for a developing nation.

Lei said that China has built the world's largest systems for healthcare services, disease prevention and control, and medical insurance over the past five years.

With 310.31 million people aged 60 and above (accounting for 22 percent of the population) by the end of 2024, optimizing elderly care is paramount. In the next five years, a key focus of the country's heath plan will be on the aging population. 

Plans include enhancing basic elderly care services, advancing long-term care insurance, and expanding support and rehabilitation services for seniors with disabilities or dementia. 

Disease prevention will be a key focus as well, according to Lei. Efforts will be intensified to promote family doctor services, public health education, and the management of key health indicators like weight and blood pressure.

Furthermore, the health sector will explore more effective ways to treat chronic diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, cancer and diabetes. A major push will be to strengthen primary healthcare systems and promote telemedicine, ensuring people have access to "convenient, efficient and relatively high-quality medical care close to home."