Health literacy refers to personal abilities in accessing and understanding basic health information and services, and using these information and services to make the right decisions to maintain and boost individual health. Health literacy is an important indicator in measuring basic national public hygiene and health level and has been incorporated into the 2011-2015 plans for the construction of the national basic public health service system and health development.

The NHFPC carried out the third national monitoring of urban and rural resident health literacy from August-December last year to comprehensively understand the overall health literacy level and offer scientific guidance for governments and family planning administrations at all levels to formulate health promotion policies. The monitoring covered 336 points in 31 provinces (autonomous region and municipalities) in the Chinese mainland.

The monitoring showed that public health literacy was on the rise, from 6.48 percent in 2008 to 8.80 percent in 2012, to 9.48 percent in 2013.

Evaluation results from the monitoring consisted of three parts. First, it assessed the overall health literacy level in China. Second, it reviewed the public health literacy on basic health knowledge and concept, healthy lifestyle and behavior, and basic skills. Third, it focused on public health problems and rated the public health literacy level, based on scientific health perspective, infectious and chronic diseases prevention and treatment, safety, first-aid and basic medical skills, and health information.

The NHFPC will continue to act on national conditions, meet public health demand, strengthen top-level design, advocate for integration of health in all policies, establish health-centered publicity and health promotion work mechanisms, implement the Action Plan to Boost Public Health Literacy (2014-2020), widely carry out health literacy tours and promotional activities, encourage the whole society to participate in health promotion work, and strive to improve the public health literacy level.