At a press conference on livelihoods during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 7, 2026, Lei Haichao, head of China's National Health Commission (NHC), announced that more than 90% of residents in China can now reach their nearest medical service point within 15 minutes. The milestone indicates significant improvements in healthcare accessibility across the country in recent years.

Fifteen minutes and more than 90%, figures that may seem common on paper, tell countless stories about the dedication and effort China has invested over the past decade to make healthcare more accessible and equitable for its people.  

On October 25, 2016, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued the outline of the Healthy China 2030 Initiative, a national blueprint aimed at improving public health. The initiative seeks to provide equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare services while strengthening the overall medical and health services system.

Strengthened primary healthcare network

A Healthy China means leaving no one behind. In a remote mountainous region of Yunyang County in southwest China's Chongqing, for example, local doctor Du Haibing conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) test on a villager experiencing sudden chest pain. The result was sent to the county's ECG diagnostic center and the feedback came back within minutes. The patient received prompt medical treatment.

Access to nearby and reliable medical care is a key objective of the initiative. To achieve this goal, the NHC has continued to strengthen the country's primary healthcare system to safeguard the health of both urban and rural residents. According to Lei, by the end of 2025, China had more than 1.1 million medical and health institutions nationwide, serving the healthcare needs of 1.4 billion people. The expansion has greatly improved accessibility to medical treatment and health services. Today, even residents in remote rural areas can receive timely medical assistance.

China's healthcare reform has also extended into broader areas. Pilot initiatives have gradually expanded nationwide to promote coordinated development among medical services, medical insurance and pharmaceuticals. By the end of 2025, national centralized medicine procurement programs had covered 490 medicines, significantly lowering people's spending. Prices for high-cost medical consumables, including cardiac stents and artificial joints, have fallen by more than 50% following their integration into centralized procurement programs.

Expanded healthcare workforce

China is also accelerating the training of general medical practitioners, public health physicians and nurses to ensure that primary healthcare institutions have enough qualified specialists.

Lei noted that China's healthcare workforce continues to grow. By 2025, the country had over 16.08 million healthcare workers, including 5.29 million licensed (assistant) physicians and more than 6.03 million registered nurses.

One example of talent support is the Beijing Ivy Medical Expert League, a non-profit organization initiated by leading medical experts and enterprises. Over the past 11 years, it has carried out a series of medical assistance programs, sending top specialists from Beijing to 33 hospitals across 27 cities and counties nationwide.

These programs have helped support grassroots hospitals and community clinics while training large numbers of local medical professionals. Many patients can now receive treatment from top experts close to home, rather than having to travel to the capital.

"Building a Healthy China by 2035 is a challenging task, but the future is promising," Lei said.

TCM integrating with modern technology

The Healthy China initiative also emphasizes the importance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), encouraging its integration with modern technologies to enhance healthcare services and drive innovation.

By 2030, township health centers and community healthcare service centers across China are expected to establish TCM clinics. Efforts are also underway to modernize TCM and promote this "treasure of Chinese civilization" internationally to contribute even more to global health.

At the 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine, participants from various countries sampled TCM herbal tea prepared with modern techniques and experienced VR consultations by TCM doctors. The evolution of ancient medical traditions in the digital age was comprehensively showcased.

Traditional medicine continues to gain global recognition. Practices such as Tai Chi have been inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and TCM has been incorporated into the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases compiled by the World Health Organization. This marked a historic step for TCM's inclusion in the global medical framework.

Public health remains the cornerstone of social progress. A healthier population means stronger national power and greater potential for sustainable development.

As Lei Haichao emphasized at the press conference, China must continue expanding its healthcare resources to meet the needs of its 1.4 billion people. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, expanded medical resources enabled more equitable and accessible medical assistance for the people. Looking ahead to the next five years, the Chinese government will continue to put people's health first, he said, adding that it will work with even greater dedication and enthusiasm to better serve the public.