Surge in Newborns in Lanzhou and Expansion of Maternity Insurance in China

Medical professionals in a Lanzhou hospital are tending to a significant number of newborns, with a record of 1,035 births recorded in the initial two weeks of the Year of the Dragon. This notable rise in births is reflected in various hospitals across Gansu Province, indicating a trend of increased newborn arrivals in the region.

In an effort to improve maternity services, 31 provinces and regions in China, including the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, have started integrating assisted reproductive technology (ART) into their health insurance policies. By 2024, this initiative is set to benefit more than 1 million individuals, as revealed by the National Healthcare Security Administration during a recent press conference. Between January and November 2024, approximately 252 million people had access to maternity insurance, with a total projected expenditure of 115.811 billion yuan, equivalent to about $15.8 billion.

These initiatives aim to refine existing policies, enhance maternity insurance protection, and foster a supportive environment for families. Jin Niu, a public finance lecturer, emphasized that incorporating ART services into medical insurance could alleviate childbirth costs, ultimately enhancing the childbirth experience for prospective parents. This move is a crucial aspect of fostering a pro-natal society in China, as reported by yicai.com.

Furthermore, the National Healthcare Security Administration is advocating for the inclusion of modern and flexible employment forms in maternity insurance coverage to safeguard the reproductive rights of employees in these positions. Regions like Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Guizhou have already adopted measures to encompass these employees in their maternity insurance plans.

In addition to these efforts, China is working towards the direct settlement of maternity medical expenses. The government encourages eligible regions to efficiently distribute maternity benefits within ten working days. More than a third of regions across the country have successfully implemented direct disbursements of maternity benefits to insured women according to established procedures. The National Healthcare Security Administration plans to continue improving maternity insurance and policies, supporting childbirth by easing financial burdens related to maternity healthcare, and fostering cross-department collaboration to enhance population quality development.