Vice-Premier Liu Yandong inspected children’s health care in Beijing on Jan 4, stressing that children are the future of the nation and the hope of every family. Governments at all levels should pay attention to children’s health care, strengthen responsibility, deepen healthcare reform, speed-up service system construction for children and provide an effective guarantee for children’s health.

Liu inspected the Capital Institute of Pediatrics and Beijing Children’s Hospital, as well as visited medical workers and patients. She said that the Chinese government is increasingly expanding the financial investment in children health care; pushing forward basic health service such as immunization programmes and birth defects prevention; and carrying out treatment for rural children who suffer from leukemia, congenital heart disease and other critical diseases.

Liu listened to the medical workers’ suggestions about children’s disease prevention and treatment. She pointed out that resources for Chinese children health care is in short supply. As a result, it is difficult for children to see doctors. During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), pediatric medical systems at all levels will strengthen support to children hospitals and pediatrics of general hospitals; strengthen research for children’s medicine, especially for rare illnesses; enhance neonatal diseases screening and prevention in order to reduce birth defects; and upgrade the birth population quality. It should implement the development plan for children of poor areas, carry out the nutrition improvement project and critical illness medical insurance, and improve the medical insurance system, reducing the burden of families with sick children.

Liu stressed that professionals are a critical factor for solving the shortage of medical resources for children. It should improve the training system, upgrade the professional level of pediatricians, improve the pediatricians’ working environment and mobilize the medical workers’ initiative. Medical staff should provide quality service for patients and try their best to ensure every sick child can be treated timely and effectively.