Beijing — China’s State Council has officially issued the National Health 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a sweeping strategic roadmap that shifts the country’s healthcare system from "treating illness" to "prioritizing people’s health." The plan, officially released as State Council Document [2026] No. 23, sets ambitious targets across the full human lifecycle.
Key Targets by 2030
The plan introduces a set of measurable health outcomes, backed by expanded medical workforce capacity:
| Indicator | Current | 2030 Target |
|---|---|---|
| Average life expectancy | 79 years | ~80 years |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | — | 3.7 |
| Registered nurses per 1,000 people | — | 5.1 |
| Nursing beds in elderly care facilities | — | 73% |
| Early death rate from major chronic diseases | — | Below 13% |
| Infant mortality rate | — | Below 3.5‰ |
From "Sick Care" to "Health Prevention"
The plan’s core philosophy centers on health prioritization — a systemic shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. It calls for building an integrated modern healthcare service system covering the entire population, spanning disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and management across all life stages.
A cornerstone of the strategy is the expansion of chronic disease management programs, targeting conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer — the leading drivers of premature mortality in China today.
The "Silver Economy" Connection
With over 310 million people aged 60 and above, China’s aging population is a defining challenge. The plan explicitly links healthcare reform to the broader silver economy strategy, expanding elderly care infrastructure, increasing nursing home capacity, and promoting age-friendly urban design.
Full-Cycle Care for Families
Notably, the plan addresses family support systems, including a significant push to expand early childhood care services. This is widely seen as a policy response to China’s declining birth rate and the growing childcare burden on working families.
The State Council has instructed all provincial and municipal governments to implement the plan as a top priority, with local action guidelines expected to follow within 90 days.
Source: State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Xinhua, July 13, 2026