The 29th biweekly seminar of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is held on Nov 8 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Health is vital to a nation and its people and the Healthy China Initiative reflects China's people-oriented development strategy, Wang Yang said at the 29th biweekly seminar of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Nov 8 in Beijing.

Wang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, called for government leadership, coordinated efforts, adjustments that fit local conditions, classified guidance and steady steps to long-term success, as well as comprehensively improving the people's health and laying a solid and healthy foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

At the event, 12 CPPCC members and experts shared their suggestions on policies and regulations, institutional mechanisms, publicity and education, and scientific and technological support to promote the Healthy China Initiative. More than 140 members expressed their opinions via a mobile platform for CPPCC members.

Participants said the CPC Central Committee has long attached great importance to people's health. In the 70 years since the founding of New China, the country's healthcare has seen remarkable achievements and the people's health has undergone historic changes.  

However, there still are problems including surging chronic diseases, mental health, health in the workplace, fast urbanization and lifestyle changes.

Attendees noted that the key to the promotion of the Healthy China Initiative is to shift the center from treatment to prevention. 

It is necessary to give top priority to raising people's health awareness. Effective measures should be taken to enhance health education and publicity, to incorporate health education into the national education system, to build a platform to spread health knowledge, to promote mass sports especially youth sports, and to make the concept of "each person is responsible for his own health" deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. 

The government will put more effort into promoting nationwide health screening, disease screening, psychological disease investigation, and improving prevention and control of chronic and special diseases. 

China will also advance coordinated reform of medical services, medical insurance and the medicine industry. Progress will be made in establishing a nationwide information network for medical insurance, reforming medical insurance payouts, medical examination and approval systems, and promoting traditional Chinese medicine as well as making more resources available for community-level health programs. 

To build a unified and efficient management system, we will integrate health resources, strengthen collaboration among departments and create a synergy. And we will promote the construction of a legal system focused on health by improving legislation, law enforcement and standards, Wang said. 

China will use technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, big data in the health field to practice the "Internet Plus Health" action plan and to improve the modernization of health management.