China to accelerate balanced layout of high-quality pediatric resources

The National Health Commission has issued documents to accelerate the expansion and balanced layout of high-quality pediatric medical resources to assist in high-quality population development and the construction of a healthy China.

According to the document issued by the National Health Commission, China will improve a high-level children's medical service network spearheaded by the National Children's Medical Center and the National Children's Regional Medical Center, with pediatrics department at the provincial, municipal, and county-level children's hospitals, comprehensive hospital, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, and maternal and child health institutions as the main players.

Each province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government shall establish a high-level provincial-level children's hospital or comprehensive hospital pediatric ward. The central government supports the construction of a children's hospital or a pediatric ward in a comprehensive hospital in large cities with a permanent population of over 1 million, when needed.

Large and competitive comprehensive hospitals should set up pediatric wards in principle, while third level comprehensive hospitals in prefectural cities should set up pediatric wards. The government will strengthen the construction of pediatric outpatient clinics and wards in county-level hospitals, while supporting grassroots medical and health institutions with mature conditions to set up pediatrics.