High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan: Shanxi Unveils a New Era for Public Health

Health is a cornerstone of socialist modernization. On December 10, Information Office of Shanxi Provincial Government held a press conference under the theme “High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan.” Officials from the Health Commission of Shanxi Province presented Shanxi’s major achievements in health development during this period and responded to key questions.         

During the 14th Five-Year Plan, Shanxi’s health system balanced reform and development, strengthened both high-level and grassroots care, and improved service capacity while enhancing people’s well-being. Key achievements include notable gains in public hospital performance rankings; pioneering county-level integrated reforms unique to Shanxi; breakthrough results in research projects; quality and scale upgrades in national key programs; and maternal and child health services reaching the national forefront.

Zhang Bo, Director of the the Health Commission of Shanxi Province, said, “Shanxi led the nation in integrating urban and rural healthcare to ensure residents receive quality care close to home. We developed county-level comprehensive, traditional Chinese medicine, and maternal-child hospitals. Coverage by five major emergency centers rose to 72.3%, significantly boosting county hospitals’ capabilities and leadership.”

Focusing on convenient, quality care near residents’ homes, Shanxi has optimized medical resource distribution to enhance patient satisfaction, safety, and security.

Shu Yan, Deputy Director General of Shanxi Provincial Health Commission, noted, “Complex surgeries and transplants once required patients to travel far to Beijing or Shanghai. Now, advanced treatments like lung and pancreas-kidney transplants are performed locally, with the Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital treating complex cases nationwide.”

As a TCM-strong province, Shanxi advanced TCM inheritance and innovation during this period, gaining wider public recognition.

Li Ruibing, Deputy Director General, stated, “We promoted TCM through pilot projects and city-level demonstrations. Integration of Western medicine and TCM has been expanded, with joint consultations and public cultural activities raising awareness and acceptance.”

Public health is the foundation of people’s well-being. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, Shanxi strengthened its disease control system by enhancing monitoring, implementing scientific responses, and optimizing services to establish a robust health defense network. 

Shi Xiuping, Deputy Director General, explained, “All 2,278 medical institutions in Shanxi are connected to the infectious disease direct reporting network, enabling real-time monitoring and monthly updates on 40 statutory infectious diseases. We have established all medical institutions and specialized sentinel sites monitoring key illnesses including COVID-19 and influenza.

In response to evolving social needs, Shanxi advanced policies supporting fertility and family well-being.

Yuan Xiaoguo, Vice President of the Shanxi Family Planning Association, said, “We introduced policy packages easing childbirth burdens. These include extended maternity leave—60 days beyond the statutory period for eligible women—15 days of paternity leave for men, and 15 days of parental leave annually for parents with children under three. Additionally, a childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan per child under three has been steadily implemented this year for eligible families.”

Over the 14th Five-Year Plan, Shanxi’s health sector has drawn a new blueprint marked by reform and people-centered progress. Strengthened grassroots care, elevated centers of excellence, enhanced disease prevention, and supportive fertility policies have jointly improved healthcare capacity and efficiency, enriching the health and happiness of Shanxi’s people.