China is making significant strides in improving newborn health by bolstering its birth-defect prevention system. The country now boasts over 4,000 agencies dedicated to prenatal screening tests and more than 3,000 agencies offering pre-marital and pre-pregnancy examinations, as revealed at a recent symposium on rare disease collaboration and communication.
With the number of prenatal diagnostic institutions exceeding 500 and 259 centers focused on screening newborn diseases, China is positioning itself as a leader in early disease detection and prevention.
Deputy Head Shen Haiping of the National Health Commission highlighted that over 8,000 birth defects have been identified, many classified as rare diseases. \"Enhancing the prevention and treatment of birth defects is crucial for improving the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases,\" Shen emphasized.
This initiative is a key component of China's Outline of Healthy China 2030, which prioritizes equitable, accessible, high-quality, and efficient services for preventing birth defects. Currently, 24 provinces offer free pre-marital examinations and 23 provinces provide free pre-pregnancy examinations, leading to a prenatal screening rate of 91.3 percent.
As a result of these efforts, the infant mortality rate and the mortality rate among children under five caused by birth defects have both decreased by more than 30 percent nationwide compared to five years ago. Shen concluded by stating that further efforts will be made to improve the prevention and treatment of birth defects and enhance the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, fulfilling the public's aspiration for healthier children.
Reference(s):
China boosts network for newborn health, prevention of birth defects
cgtn.com
