• Actively implement the overseas development strategy for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
• Advance the formulation and revision of laws and regulations such as the "Traditional Chinese Medicine Law"
On January 8, 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Work Conference was held in Beijing. The meeting reviewed the work of health and family planning in 2014 and studied and deployed key tasks for the reform and development of health and family planning in 2015. In a work report titled "Thoroughly Implementing the Central Government's Decisions and Striving to Create a New Phase in the Reform and Development of Health and Family Planning," Li Bin, Director and Party Secretary of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, explicitly stated that 2015 would focus on improving the policy mechanisms and planning systems for TCM development and actively supporting the growth of TCM.
Prior to the meeting, Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Liu Yandong issued important directives, fully affirming the achievements made in health and family planning work in 2014 and setting clear requirements for the work in 2015. Vice Premier Liu Yandong also specifically listened to the work report of the National Health and Family Planning Commission's Party Committee. Li Bin urged the entire system to deeply study and understand the directives of the central leadership and to implement them closely in practice.
Li Bin pointed out that in 2014, the health and family planning system achieved new progress in major reforms, made new strides in public health and the prevention and control of major diseases, and achieved breakthroughs in tackling difficult and focal issues, resulting in stable progress and tangible outcomes. The total number of medical consultations nationwide reached 7.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. The universal basic medical insurance system covered 1.325 billion people, with the participation rate remaining above 95%. Comprehensive deepening of medical reforms yielded positive progress in key areas. The "separate two-child" policy was implemented steadily and orderly, and family planning work continued to strengthen. Efforts to build a solid foundation for long-term development further enhanced public health and medical service capabilities. Close collaboration ensured the steady advancement of TCM work. Emphasis on legal construction further improved safeguarding and innovation capabilities. Strengthening Party conduct and integrity led to significant progress in publicity and education. Deepening international exchanges and cooperation enhanced China's voice in global population affairs.
Li Bin noted that in 2014, close collaboration between health and family planning work and TCM efforts ensured the steady progress of various TCM tasks and further improved the TCM working mechanism. The National Health and Family Planning Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening TCM Work in Health and Family Planning Efforts." Reforms included advancing pilot comprehensive reforms in public TCM hospitals, launching pilot innovations in TCM diagnosis and treatment models, selecting the first batch of key TCM service trade projects, backbone enterprises, and key regions, and actively promoting the development of health tourism. The grassroots TCM service capacity enhancement project was deeply implemented. Thirty masters of TCM were selected and honored in the second national appraisal. The International Organization for Standardization released the first batch of international TCM standards. The 67th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on traditional medicine proposed by China, further elevating its international influence.
In outlining the tasks for health and family planning reform and development for the year, Li Bin emphasized the need to actively support the development of TCM. This includes improving policy mechanisms and planning systems for TCM development, strengthening the construction of comprehensive TCM reform pilot zones, advancing reforms in public TCM hospitals, and deepening reforms in TCM science and technology systems. Efforts will also focus on promoting the spirit of TCM masters, implementing the TCM inheritance and innovation talent project, fully carrying out the grassroots TCM service capacity enhancement project, deepening the "TCM Across China" campaign, and accelerating the development of TCM health preservation, medical rehabilitation, health tourism, and other services. The national survey of TCM resources will be advanced. The overseas development strategy for TCM will be actively implemented. At the same time, legal work will be strengthened, and the formulation and revision of laws and regulations such as the "Traditional Chinese Medicine Law" will be promoted.
Li Bin emphasized that 2015 is a critical year for comprehensively deepening reforms, the inaugural year for advancing the rule of law in all respects, the final year for completing the 12th Five-Year Plan, and an important year for promoting the reform and development of health and family planning. She called for deepening medical and health system reforms, advancing the equalization of basic public health services and the prevention and control of major diseases, ensuring the steady and orderly implementation of the "separate two-child" policy, strengthening top-level design and planning guidance, enhancing law-based administration and quality services, improving governance capabilities in health and family planning, and accelerating the development of a health and family planning system that satisfies the people.
The meeting was chaired by Sun Zhigang, Deputy Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, who also delivered concluding remarks. Other attendees included Deputy Directors Wang Guoqiang, Ma Xiaowei, Wang Pei'an, Liu Qian, Yin Li, Cui Li, and Jin Xiaoqiao, as well as Chen Ruiping, Head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's disciplinary inspection team stationed at the National Health and Family Planning Commission. (By Ding Yang and Hu Bin)
