{"id":25403,"date":"2026-09-15T11:19:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T05:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25403"},"modified":"2026-09-15T11:19:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T05:34:39","slug":"china-expands-childbirth-support-with-more-affordable-childcare-and-pediatric-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25403","title":{"rendered":"China Expands Childbirth Support with More Affordable Childcare and Pediatric Services<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

China will further expand policies supporting childbirth by making childcare services more accessible and affordable, strengthening pediatric healthcare and reducing the financial burden on families as the country responds to declining birth rates and an aging population.<\/p>\n

Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, told a press conference in Beijing on Monday that China will continue promoting the integrated development of kindergartens and nursery services. Communities and employers will also be encouraged to establish childcare facilities so families can access services close to their homes or workplaces at relatively affordable prices.<\/p>\n

According to Lei, the government aims to increase childcare coverage among young children and reduce the costs associated with having, raising and educating children. China will also expand pediatric services at grassroots medical institutions to make healthcare more readily available to families.<\/p>\n

By the end of this year, 1,000 more community-level medical and health institutions are expected to provide pediatric care compared with last year. More than 95 percent of township-level clinics and community health service centers nationwide are also expected to have the capacity to provide relevant pediatric services.<\/p>\n

More than 3,000 pediatricians from higher-level hospitals have already been deployed to grassroots medical institutions to strengthen community-level services. The measure is intended to give children greater access to professional medical care closer to where they live.<\/p>\n

China has been developing a full-cycle maternity support system covering pre-pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing. The system includes maternity allowances, childcare subsidies, medical insurance reimbursement and affordable childcare services designed to reduce the financial burden on families.<\/p>\n

In 2025, China introduced a nationwide childcare subsidy program providing an annual tax-free payment of 3,600 yuan, about $530, for each child under the age of three. Beginning with the autumn semester of 2025, the country also started waiving childcare and education fees for children in the final year of kindergarten.<\/p>\n

As of August, more than 25 million infants and toddlers had received childcare subsidies for 2026, while about 24 million kindergarten children had benefited from the fee-waiver policy.<\/p>\n

Around 260 million people are currently covered by maternity insurance. Many regions are also expanding eligibility so flexible workers can enroll in maternity insurance together with employee medical insurance.<\/p>\n

The measures form part of China\u2019s broader effort to build a \u201cbirth-friendly society.\u201d The country\u2019s 15th Five-Year Plan places greater emphasis on encouraging childbirth, reducing maternity expenses and lowering the costs of childcare and education.<\/p>\n

The long-term objective is to stabilize the number of newborns and promote balanced and sustainable population development.<\/p>\n

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