From June 12 to 16, Qin Boyong, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and executive vice-chairwoman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, led a team of non-Communist Party of China members from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Areas of the CPPCC National Committee to Northwest China's Gansu province to inspect local work on medical and health services in rural areas. 

The inspection team visited 13 villages and townships in the cities of Dingxi and Longnan, and Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, where they learned about the operation, staffing, public healthcare access, and management and support systems of grassroots hospitals and clinics. During their visits, they communicated with healthcare workers, patients, and local officials to listen to opinions and suggestions. 

The team noted that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Gansu has consistently strengthened its development of grassroots medical institutions, enhanced the service capabilities of rural healthcare facilities, and promoted the role of traditional Chinese medicine in rural health services. These efforts have notably improved the healthcare experience of and satisfaction among rural residents, they added. 

The team stressed that improving rural medical and health service system is the "first line of defense" in safeguarding the health of millions of rural residents, and it is crucial to prioritize rural healthcare in the broader context of rural vitalization. Efforts should be made to accelerate the expansion and balanced distribution of high-quality medical and health resources at the county level, shift the focus of healthcare services to rural areas, and establish a high-quality and efficient rural medical and healthcare system tailored to rural areas, aiming to ensure that the vast rural population can access quality and convenient medical services, the team said.