In 2025, Beijing plans to establish a new batch of hospitals in its newly developed districts, increasing the number of hospital beds per capita in “non-central” areas. Over the past decade, healthcare reforms have pursued a dual approach: on one hand, expanding high-quality medical services, making top-tier hospitals and renowned doctors more accessible; on the other hand, strengthening grassroots healthcare facilities, ensuring smaller local hospitals can handle medical needs close to home.
In June 2024, Lei Haichao, 56, assumed the role of Minister of the National Health Commission, becoming the youngest member of the current leadership team. Recognised as a “scholarly” official, Lei published three articles shortly after taking office, outlining key priorities for the next phase of healthcare reform. The next five years are seen as critical for accelerating the construction of a hierarchical medical system, with the goal of managing serious illnesses within provincial boundaries, treating common illnesses at the municipal or county level, and addressing routine medical needs at the grassroots level.
Currently, high-quality medical professionals are concentrated in large hospitals in a few major cities, while patient demand is dispersed across communities and rural areas. Nationwide, over half of interprovincial patients seek treatment in Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, or Guangdong. To address this disparity, a nationwide network of high-quality medical services must be developed.
