In a significant move to support maternal healthcare and address the country’s declining birth rate, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has announced that all tertiary-level hospitals across the country must offer epidural anaesthesia for childbirth by the end of 2025. Secondary hospitals are expected to follow by 2027.
The new requirement, aimed at improving the childbirth experience, applies to tertiary hospitals with over 500 beds and secondary hospitals with more than 100 beds. According to a statement released by the NHC last week, the measure is part of a broader effort to create a more welcoming environment for childbirth.
China has been grappling with a steady population decline, with 2024 marking the third consecutive year of falling numbers. Experts have warned that this downward trend is likely to accelerate in the years ahead. The government has been actively seeking ways to encourage families to have more children, and improving access to pain relief during delivery is one of the latest initiatives.
Currently, only about 30% of women in China receive anaesthesia during labor, a stark contrast to many developed nations. In France, around 82% of women choose to have an epidural, while more than 67% do so in the United States and Canada. The World Health Organization supports the use of epidurals for healthy pregnant women who request pain relief during childbirth.
The NHC stated the policy will “improve the comfort level and security of medical services” and “further enhance people’s sense of happiness and promote a friendly childbearing environment.”
In addition to mandating access to epidurals, several provinces have started including childbirth anaesthesia costs in medical insurance schemes, a step designed to alleviate financial concerns and incentivize childbirth.
High costs associated with raising children, uncertainties in the job market, and a weakening economy have all contributed to a shift in attitudes among young Chinese, with many delaying or opting out of marriage and parenthood altogether.
Efforts to reverse this trend have been intensifying. In June, health officials in Sichuan province proposed extending marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days. These measures are intended to support families and contribute to what the provincial authorities described as a “fertility-friendly society.”
