Published on: 2026-09-14
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Beijing, September 14 /Xinhua/ — China will take further steps to support childbirth, including making childcare more accessible and less financially burdensome, as the country aims to reduce the costs of raising children and increase the birth rate. This was stated on Monday by Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission of China.
It is necessary to continue promoting the comprehensive development of nurseries and kindergartens, and to support neighborhoods and employers in creating institutions that provide childcare services, noted Lei Haichao at a press conference in Beijing.
The goal, according to him, is to enable families to access services close to home or work and at relatively affordable prices.
Lei Haichao assured that the department he heads will work on increasing the enrollment rate of children in kindergartens and achieving an effective reduction in family expenses for childbirth, upbringing, and education of children.
In addition, access to pediatric care at primary healthcare facilities will be improved, the head of the department added.
According to his estimates, by the end of this year, the number of primary medical and health institutions capable of providing pediatric care will increase by another 1,000. This means that at least 95 percent of medical service centers in neighborhoods and village-district health posts across the country will be able to provide the relevant services.
More than 3,000 pediatricians have already been sent from higher-level hospitals to assist primary healthcare facilities, said Lei Haichao.
China has developed a full-cycle maternal support system covering the periods of pregnancy planning, pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing. The support measures include maternity and childbirth benefits, childcare allowances, reimbursement of medical insurance expenses, and accessible childcare services.
In 2025, the country introduced a unified childcare allowance: an annual payment of 3,600 yuan (approximately 530 US dollars) is provided for each child under the age of three. As of August, the 2026 allowance had been granted for more than 25 million children.
In addition, currently 260 million people are covered by maternity insurance.
All of this is part of China’s extensive efforts to build a society favorable to childbirth against the backdrop of declining birth rates and an aging population.
Building a “birth-friendly society” has become one of the key directions of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. The main provisions of this plan include incentives to encourage childbirth and reduce the costs of childbirth, childcare, and education.
The primary goal stated in the main provisions of the plan is the stabilization of the number of newborns and the support of long-term balanced population development. -0-
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