CCTV News: Every time when influenza and other respiratory diseases are at a high incidence, queuing up for medical treatment has become one of the most concerned issues for the people. The National Health Commission held a press conference on the 20th. Relevant persons in charge said that by the end of 2025, all second- and third-level public comprehensive hospitals across the country can see pediatric departments.
The latest data from the National Health Commission shows that there are 162 children's hospitals nationwide, with nearly 4,400 public general hospitals with pediatrics. The number of beds per 1,000 children increased from 1.93 in 2015 to 2.55 in 2023; the number of practicing pediatric physicians per 1,000 (including practicing assistant physicians) increased from 0.49 in 2015 to 1.02 in 2023.
Jiao Yahui, director of the Medical Administration Department of the National Health Commission, said: "Although from a national perspective, the medical resources of pediatrics have increased significantly. However, there is still a certain gap between the current supply of children's medical services and the needs of the people, and there are still a few comprehensive hospitals that have not yet been able to provide pediatric services. When the seasonal diseases of children are at high risk, some hospitals have a long waiting time; in some places, children's disease diagnosis and treatment capabilities need to be further improved."
A relevant person in charge of the National Health Commission said that more than 90% of second- and third-level public comprehensive hospitals in the country can provide pediatric services, and it is planned to use three years to further expand pediatric medical service capabilities to better meet the needs of children with medical treatment.
Jiao Yahui said: "In order to achieve the goal that second and third-level public comprehensive hospitals in the country can provide pediatric services by the end of 2025, we require provincial health commissions to comprehensively sort out and investigate the situation of second and third-level public comprehensive hospitals that have not yet provided pediatric services in the province and find out the basic situation. Pediatric services are used as the performance of public hospital responsibilities, and through various means such as dispatching experts, telemedicine, and medical alliances, the gap in pediatric services can be filled as soon as possible."
