BEIJING -- China's healthcare system recorded 10.65 billion patient visits in 2025, up 510 million from the previous year, reflecting improved access to medical services across the country.

By the end of 2025, China had more than 1.1 million healthcare institutions and a medical workforce of 16.12 million, both exceeding the previous year's figures, according to a report released by the National Health Commission on Friday.

As China's healthcare system, already the world's largest, continues to expand, access to primary healthcare is improving. The government is promoting a tiered healthcare system, and the number and share of visits to primary healthcare facilities continued to rise in 2025. More than 90 percent of residents can now reach a nearby healthcare facility within 15 minutes.

Healthcare costs fell in real terms in 2025, the report shows. The average cost of a hospital stay declined by 1 percent to 9,768.9 yuan (about 1,454 U.S. dollars), while the average cost of an outpatient visit dropped by 0.9 percent to 357.7 yuan. Healthcare spending stood at 6.7 percent of GDP last year.

These improvements have contributed to better health outcomes nationwide. In 2025, average life expectancy in China rose to 79.25 years. The maternal mortality rate fell to 13.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate dropped to 3.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.