In its efforts to build a birth-friendly society even as its birth-rate declines and population continues to age, China plans to expand affordable childcare and paediatric healthcare services across the country, according to China's Minister of Health Commission Mr Lei Haichao.
Mr Lei Haichao was addressing the media at a State Council Information Office press conference on 14 September 2026. Mr 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 enrolment and cut the cost of raising a child.
According to Xinhua news agency the focus of China’s 15th Five-Year pan (2026-2030) is also to build a "birth-friendly society" for social and economic development. The plan includes incentives to raise the birth rate and steps to cut the cost of childbirth, childcare and education. It hopes that these measures will stabilise the number of newborns and support long-term development of balanced population.
China has recently been sprucing up its maternity insurance system to expand its coverage and strengthen support for childbirth. It is also working on cutting down the out-of-pocket spending on childbirth and ensure more benefits reach the public.
China will also add more than 1,000 community health centres and township hospitals offering paediatric services this year. By the end of 2026, more than 95% hospitals and healthcare facilities are expected to provide paediatric care.
This year, China has deployed 3,100 paediatricians to primary-level medical institutions to strengthen paediatric services at the community level.
According to government data, currently, 260m people are covered by maternity insurance, and many regions are expanding coverage to allow flexible workers to enrol in maternity insurance alongside employee medical insurance.