Guizhou launches development plan for public health system

Southwest China's Guizhou province recently released its plan to develop a public health system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

The province aims to establish a high-quality, efficient, and integrated modern public health system, significantly strengthen scientific and technological innovation in public health, and improve the quality of public health services by the end of 2025. 

This is expected to improve the physical fitness of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, increase food safety and eliminate health hazards. The average life expectancy is expected to reach 78 years.

The maternal mortality rate is expected to be reduced to 14 per 100,000 pregnant women, while the mortality rate of infants and children aged under 5 is expected to be less than four out of 1,000 and six out of 1,000, respectively. The total reported incidence of Class A and B infectious diseases in the province is expected to be reduced to less than 260 per 100,000 people. 

The number of general practitioners per 10,000 permanent residents is expected to increase to three, and 27 percent of Guizhou residents are expected to have basic knowledge about health and healthy living, as well as basic health care skills, with the rate being significantly higher than the provincial average.

To achieve these goals, Guizhou will carry out 15 major projects, including strengthening the construction of a modern disease prevention and control system, a major epidemic treatment system, a grassroots public health system, a maternal and child health service system, a chronic disease and elderly health service system and a mental health system.

Food safety monitoring and evaluation, public health scientific research and professional team building will also be enhanced during this period.