China’s 11.75 million medical workers celebrated their own day, Chinese Medical Workers' Day, for the first time on August 19.

“I am so touched,” said 82-year-old oncologist Zhou Keming at the People’s Hospital of Jianyang City in Southwest China’s Sichuan province.

“We medical workers have our own festival from now on.”

Medical workers are a major force to ensure people’s health and a healthy China. The day’s establishment shows that the CPC Central Committee highly values China’s hygiene and health and recognizes the achievements of medical workers.

The Chinese Medical Workers’ Day encourages all levels of governments and hospitals to share medical workers’ stories, enhancing society’s respect for and understanding of all medical teams.

In addition, the day will bring about more measures benefiting medical workers and protecting their legal rights, so that they are more active during work.

“We need to fully stimulate medical workers through focusing on their professional development, enhancing their salaries and working condition, and offering them more care and respect,” said Zhao Yupei, the president of Peking Union Medial College Hospital.

At the same time, more professional and reliable Chinese medical teams are expected to emerge with the encouragement of the special day.

In November last year, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, approved August 19 as the Chinese Medical Workers' Day.