China's health service industry to reach $2.4t by 2030

A nurse records patients' conditions at an intensive care unit in a hospital in Rong'an county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, May 12, 2017. [Photo/Asianewsphoto.com]

BEIJING - China will boost its health-related industries and estimates the market for health services will reach 16 trillion yuan ($2.4 trillion) by 2030, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) said Monday.

"China will continue to facilitate the integration of its health-related industries with the elderly care, tourism, internet, fitness and food industries," said Hou Yan, an official with the NHFPC.

As of May 2017, the number of private hospitals in China hit 17,000, accounting for 57.5 percent of the total hospitals across the country. according to the NHFPC. In the first five months of 2017, China's private hospitals had 180 million medical visits, an increase of 13 percent year on year, said the commission, adding that China exported medical equipment to 224 countries and regions in 2016.

In October 2016, Chinese authorities released "Healthy China 2030," a blueprint that covers areas such as public health services, the medical industry, and food and drug safety with the aim of improving the health of the Chinese people.