China to Broaden Access to Pain Relief During Childbirth

China is planning to increase access to pain relief during labor and delivery as part of a broader initiative to create a more supportive environment for childbirth. Health authorities announced that by the end of this year, all major hospitals in China offering obstetric services will be equipped to provide epidural anesthesia during childbirth. The plan extends to secondary hospitals, with the goal of having all of them offering the service by 2027.

The initiative involves strengthening the infrastructure needed for administering epidural labor relief. This includes establishing dedicated procedure rooms that meet strict sterilization standards and ensuring constant monitoring of hospital-acquired infections. Authorities also emphasize the importance of securing adequate supplies of equipment and medications, alongside enhanced training for specialized personnel.

The notice highlights the need for improved collaboration between obstetrics and anesthesia departments. This includes promoting information sharing to closely monitor the condition of women in labor. Hospitals are also urged to upgrade their management protocols for pain relief, covering the entire process from early evaluations and diagnosis to treatment of potential complications and post-labor assessments.

Furthermore, hospitals are encouraged to incorporate prenatal labor analgesia assessments into routine prenatal examinations. The plan also calls for increased training to develop more professionals in anesthesia administration.

Currently, only a minority of pregnant women in China receive anesthesia for pain relief during childbirth, a rate significantly lower than in many developed countries. Experts attribute this low rate to factors such as misconceptions about the side effects of anesthesia on newborns, a shortage of anesthesiologists, and inconsistent pricing standards.

China began piloting the expansion of childbirth anesthesia in 2018 at hundreds of hospitals across various regions. Data from these pilot programs show a significant increase in the use of pain relief. In addition, several regions have begun including childbirth anesthesia fees in their medical insurance programs to reduce the financial burden on families.