China said that by the end of this year all tertiary level hospitals must offer epidural anesthesia during childbirth, a move it said would help promote a “friendly childbearing environment.”
Tertiary hospitals — those with more than 500 beds — must provide epidural anesthesia services by this year, while secondary hospitals — those containing more than 100 beds — must provide the services by 2027, the Chinese National Health Commission said in a statement last week.
Authorities are struggling to boost the birthrate in the world’s second-largest economy after China’s population fell for a third consecutive year last year, with experts warning the downturn would worsen in the coming years.
Photo: Reuters
About 30 percent of pregnant women in China receive anesthesia to relieve pain during childbirth, compared with more than 70 percent in some developed nations, the China Daily reported.
The WHO recommends an epidural for healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief and it is widely utilized in many nations, including France, where about 82 percent of pregnant women opt to have one, and in the US and Canada, where more than 67 percent do.
The move would “improve the comfort level and security of medical services,” and “further enhance people’s sense of happiness and promote a friendly childbearing environment,” the commission said.
A growing number of provinces across China are also beginning to include childbirth anesthesia costs as part of their medical insurance schemes to encourage more women to have children.
High childcare costs, as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy, have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family.
Health authorities in Sichuan Province have proposed extending marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days to help create a “fertility-friendly society.”
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