Hospitals to be more birth-friendly

China is boosting efforts to build child-friendly and birth-friendly hospitals nationwide, with the goal of providing high-quality pediatric and maternity services while fostering a more welcoming and convenient environment for patients seeking maternal and child care, according to two policy documents issued by the National Health Commission and other government departments in January.

These measures come at a time when China is dealing with a decreasing birth rate. To address this, the nation is doubling down on efforts to build a birth-friendly society with an emphasis on reducing the cost of childbirth, parenting and education.

The drive to create child-friendly hospitals involves a range of initiatives aimed at making hospital environments safer and more comfortable for children and addressing long-standing issues faced by child patients and their families.

Hospitals will incorporate fun and vibrant decorations and bright colors into their buildings to alleviate the anxiety of young patients.

They are also required to have more spacious corridors, waiting areas and resting zones to accommodate those accompanying a child patient. Dedicated playing and reading areas equipped with water, dining and retail amenities will also be established.

The height of consultation desks and blood collection facilities should be lowered and pediatric wards should consist mainly of two-bed or three-bed rooms. Family wards that allow parents to stay with their children will also be introduced.

Hospitals are also required to schedule a reasonable number of appointments to ensure sufficient time for each consultation. The length of outpatient hours should be flexible to cater to surges in demand during peak periods.

Efforts will be made to reduce waiting times by streamlining payment processes and providing same-day return of examination results.

Pediatric departments and professionals will be prioritized in income distribution at hospital, and more social workers and volunteers will be recruited to provide psychological consultations and comfort for child patients and their family members. Charitable organizations will be supported to offer assistance to financially disadvantaged families.

By 2030, child-friendly hospitals are expected to constitute at least 90 percent of all medical institutions offering pediatric services, including maternity and child care institutions, pediatric hospitals, general hospitals and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals.

Jiao Yahui, director of the health commission's medical administration department, said that the number of pediatric hospitals across the nation has increased to 162, and nearly 4,400 public general hospitals have set up pediatric departments.

From 2015 to 2023, the number of pediatric beds per 1,000 children grew from 1.93 to 2.55, and the number of pediatricians per 1,000 children climbed from 0.49 to 1.02.

However, challenges persist, such as long waiting times during seasonal epidemics and disparities in diagnosis and treatment capabilities across regions, she said.

Zhang Guojun, Party chief of Beijing Children's Hospital, affiliated to Capital Medical University, said during an interview with People's Daily that an ideal model for child-friendly hospitals should resemble the atmosphere of a garden or an amusement park so that a child patient will feel relaxed upon entering and ease through examinations and doctors' consultations like playing a game.

Information technologies can play a key role in enhancing convenience, he said.

"During summers and winters, and especially the peak season for respiratory infectious diseases, the number of patients will register a spike and we can use our online diagnosis and treatment platforms to alleviate pressure on in-person clinics," he said.

Zhang added that digital tools have already been used to provide real-time information on parking availability, queue status and medication delivery options.

He also stressed the need for the seamless transfer of severely ill child patients between different hospital levels and the cultivation of a friendly and approachable demeanor among healthcare providers.

In a separate document, the nation aims to have at least 90 percent of all medical institutions offering maternity services qualify as birth-friendly hospitals by 2030.

Alongside the implementation of appointment-based and integrated services to enhance patient convenience, the document lays out measures that include equipping multiple-bed rooms with curtains and dividers, as well as temperature and humidity control systems to protect patient privacy and create a pleasant environment for expectant and new mothers.

Hospitals are encouraged to participate in promoting awareness of reproductive health, guiding individuals to get married and have children at appropriate ages, and preventing unintended pregnancies.

Outpatient nutrition departments will be established to provide guidance and interventions for weight control during pregnancy. Screening for perinatal depression will be integrated into routine prenatal and postnatal care to promptly identify mental health issues in pregnant women and initiate early interventions.

The document outlines specific measures to create a warm and comfortable delivery environment and emphasizes patient-centered childbirth services. Healthcare providers are urged to address the questions and requests of women in labor with patience and timeliness and offer not only professional services but also emotional support.

"Hospitals are encouraged to carry out non-drug pain relief methods such as professional labor companionship in addition to ensuring comprehensive access to pain-relieving medications during labor," it said.

The role of artificial intelligence in helping decision-making in obstetrics, fetal heart monitoring recognition and the issue of alerts during labor can be explored, it added.

Efforts should also be made to explore AI-based clinical decision support in obstetrics, fetal heart monitoring recognition and labor process alerting, and wearable devices can be used to help monitor the condition of pregnant women and newborns at their homes, saving them the trouble of visiting hospitals personally.

Yin Chenghong, president of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, affiliated to Capital Medical University, emphasized collective efforts across different departments to establish a birth-friendly hospital.

The hospital has expanded outpatient appointments in its reproductive medicine department to meet the rising needs of parents seeking fertility assistance. Special attention is given to preserving fertility in cancer patients and those with gynecological conditions, including advising them on cryopreservation of ovarian tissues in advance.

To enhance patient experiences, the hospital has established a one-stop screening center for prenatal tests and extended outpatient clinic hours to weekends and early evenings.

With a rising number of older or high-risk pregnant women, multidisciplinary discussions on complex cases have been intensified, and intensive care units have been added to facilitate continuous monitoring and care.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn