National Health Commission to fully implement eight initiatives this year

The National Health Commission has pledged to fully implement a list of eight healthcare initiatives this year, including expanding pediatric services and boosting psychological support for the people.

In a notice released on Thursday, the commission outlined specific measures in eight areas so as to boost a sense of satisfaction and well-being of the public.

In a bid to bolster pediatric services, public hospitals without established pediatric units will receive support to begin delivering pediatric care services no later than the end of November.

Various approaches, including collaboration with major hospitals and remote medical service platforms, will be employed to achieve this goal.

By the end of November, each city is expected to have a hospital offering services for psychological and sleep disorders.

Meanwhile, the national 12356 mental health support hotline should be operational nationwide by May 1. The hotline was already accessible in 18 provincial-level regions, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang province, as of Thursday, said commission spokesman Hu Qiangqiang.

Other tasks laid out by the commission include facilitating mutual recognition of examination results across medical institutions, increasing affordable nursery care slots and boosting access to hemodialysis services in counties.

The commission stressed that these measures should be enforced completely and without delay, and heads of local authorities in health, traditional Chinese medicine and disease control and prevention will be put in charge overseeing their implementation.