China to add 150,000 subsidized nursery care slots and scale up central financing

China plans to add 150,000 government-subsidized nursery care slots and scale up central financing to support the development of affordable childcare services this year, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

Fu Wei, director of the commission's department of maternal and child health, said at a news conference that the country added 890,000 subsidized nursery slots last year. This year, efforts will focus on increasing the share of affordable slots, expanding service coverage and improving quality.

Central financial support for the sector will also be strengthened. Steps will be taken to implement preferential policies on utility rates — including water, electricity, gas and heating — for nursery care facilities, as well as tax and fee reductions.

Fu added that maternal and child health centers and other medical institutions are encouraged to partner with childcare service providers and offer them health guidance.

Boosting nursery care services is one of the 10 key tasks set by the commission for this year.

Other priorities include equipping 1,000 township health centers and community health service centers with pediatric common disease care capabilities, adding psychological clinics in 110 counties, and ensuring that all tertiary general hospitals can provide weight management services.

The number of mutually recognized test results among hospitals in the same city is expected to rise from 200 to 300. An additional 350 township or community health centers will be equipped to offer hemodialysis services.

A total of 10,000 medical institutions will establish early pregnancy care clinics, providing integrated support that covers nutrition, mental health, and other consultations.

Starting around late February, China will begin offering free human papillomavirus vaccines to 13-year-old girls as part of its national immunization program. All township and community health centers will also provide vaccination services on weekends.