China Strengthens Birth-Defect Prevention and Rare Disease Diagnosis

China has made considerable advancements in its system for preventing birth defects, having established upwards of 4,000 agencies focusing on prenatal screening tests and more than 3,000 facilities that provide pre-marital and pre-pregnancy examinations. During a symposium focused on rare disease collaboration, it was revealed that the number of prenatal diagnostic centers has surpassed 500, alongside 259 dedicated facilities for screening newborn diseases.

As of now, there are over 8,000 recognized birth defects, with many categorized as rare diseases, according to Shen Haiping, who serves as the deputy head of the Maternal and Child Health Department within the National Health Commission. Shen emphasized the importance of enhancing prevention and treatment methods for birth defects, noting that these efforts are vital for the improved diagnosis and management of rare diseases.

The Chinese government has integrated the prevention of birth defects into its Outline of Healthy China 2030, issuing various directives for medical institutions to provide equitable and high-quality services focused on this prevention. Currently, 24 provinces offer complimentary pre-marital examinations, while 23 provide free pre-pregnancy examinations. As a result of enhanced measures on prenatal screening, the detection and intervention rate in China has reached 91.3 percent.

Furthermore, there has been a significant drop in both the infant mortality rate and the mortality rate for children under five due to birth defects, with reductions exceeding 30 percent in the past five years, according to Shen. He stated that ongoing efforts will continue to improve the prevention and treatment of birth defects, along with the diagnosis and management of rare diseases, ultimately fulfilling the public's desire for healthy children.