China plans to expand affordable childcare, pediatric healthcare services

China will continue efforts to create a more birth-friendly environment by expanding affordable childcare and pediatric healthcare services, Lei Haichao, Minister of the National Health Commission, said on Monday.

At a State Council Information Office press conference, Lei said China will integrate childcare with preschool services, and encourage communities and employers to offer facilities. The aim is to make services more accessible, boost enrollment and cut the cost of raising a child.

China will also add more than 1,000 community health centers and township hospitals offering pediatric services this year. By the end of 2026, more than 95% are expected to provide pediatric care, Lei said.

This year, China has deployed 3,100 pediatricians to primary-level medical institutions to strengthen pediatric services at the community level, he added.

China has developed a full-cycle maternity support system covering everything from pre-pregnancy to raising children. It includes maternity allowances, childcare subsidies, medical insurance reimbursement and affordable childcare services, all aimed at easing the financial burden on families.

A total of 12,562 early pregnancy care clinics have been established, covering almost every county, said Lei. Mothers-to-be can visit them in early pregnancy for counseling and other services. If there is a risk of miscarriage, the clinics can help women take preventive measures.

In 2025, China's maternal mortality rate fell to 13.4 per 100,000 live births and its infant mortality rate to 3.8 per 1,000, putting it among the best performers in these indicators among upper-middle- and high-income countries, and among countries with populations over 100 million.

On incentives, China introduced a nationwide childcare subsidy in 2025, offering an annual tax-free subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about $530) for each child under three. It also began waiving childcare and education fees for the final year of kindergarten in the 2025 autumn semester.

As of August, more than 25 million infants and toddlers had received subsidies for 2026, and roughly 24 million kindergarten children had benefited from the fee waiver.

Some 260 million people are covered by maternity insurance, and many regions are widening coverage to let flexible workers enroll alongside employee medical insurance.

The measures form part of China's broader efforts to build a birth-friendly society amid declining birth rates and an aging population.

Building a "birth-friendly society" is a key focus of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for social and economic development. The outline sets out incentives to raise the birth rate and steps to cut the cost of childbirth, childcare and education, with the aim of stabilizing the number of newborns and supporting long-term balanced population development.

(With input from Xinhua)