The Committee on Proposals of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a consultation meeting on July 16 on the handling of a key proposal on implementing the health-first strategy and advancing the Healthy China Initiative.

Yang Zhen, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and executive vice-chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party Central Committee, addressed the meeting.

Representatives of the proposal sponsors introduced the proposal. Several CPPCC members also shared their views. Participants said it is important to recognize the strategic significance of accelerating the building of a Healthy China, and concentrate resources and adopt effective measures to achieve new progress in advancing the Healthy China Initiative.

They called for fully implementing the key tasks for advancing the Healthy China Initiative, incorporating the health-first strategy into planning at all levels and across all sectors, and promoting a shift in the healthcare system from a treatment-centered approach to one centered on people's health.

Participants also suggested strengthening comprehensive chronic disease prevention and control at the community level, improving systems for early screening, diagnosis and treatment, and enhancing integrated prevention and management of multiple diseases.

They called for building a high-quality and efficient healthcare service system, expanding the supply of quality medical resources and promoting their more balanced regional distribution, as well as advancing the high-quality application of artificial intelligence in the medical sector.

They further proposed strengthening biosafety and biosecurity capacity, improving mechanisms for preventing and controlling major infectious diseases, enhancing the workforce and service system for mental health services, enhancing the international competitiveness and security of the biopharmaceutical industry, and promoting scientific and technological innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies in the medical and healthcare sectors.

Officials from the departments responsible for handling the proposal, including the National Health Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Healthcare Security Administration, provided updates on proposal handling and engaged in exchanges with CPPCC members.

The meeting was chaired by Liu Jiayi, chairman of the Committee on Proposals of the CPPCC National Committee.