China healthcare reform: a timeline of official documents on medical institutions and medical insurance

A State Council Information Office white paper, carried on the National Health Commission's English site and updated 2012-12-27, says the Chinese government initiated reform of the medical and healthcare systems in the 1980s, and speeded up the reform in 2003 after a success was won in the fight against the SARS.

Insurance milestones

A National Health Commission English page carrying a China Daily timeline, updated 2021-06-23, lists for 1998 the setting up of the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance System that incorporates maternity insurance for urban female employees.

The timeline lists for 2003 the establishing of the New Rural Cooperative Medical System to cover rural residents.

The timeline lists for 2007 the establishing of the Urban Residents Basic Medical Insurance System to cover nonworking urban residents, including children, students, the unemployed, older adults and people with disabilities.

The reform opinions and public hospital pilots

A State Council Information Office white paper, carried on the National Health Commission's English site and updated 2012-12-27, says that in March 2009, the Chinese government promulgated the "Opinions on Deepening Reform of the Medical and Health Care Systems," setting off a new round of reform in this regard.

A State Council Information Office white paper, carried on the National Health Commission's English site and updated 2012-12-27, says that in 2010, the Chinese government started pilot reforms of public hospitals in 17 state-designated cities and 37 province-level districts.

Healthy China, insurance integration and family doctor documents

A National Health Commission English page, updated 2016-10-27, says the CPC Central Committee and State Council published the "Healthy China 2030" plan on Oct 25.

The page says that, according to the plan, the main health indicators will reach the standards of high-income countries by 2030.

A gov.cn English report, updated Jan 12,2016, says the State Council on Jan 12 issued a guideline on the integration of basic medical insurance for urban employees and the new rural cooperative medical scheme, which are aimed at creating a unified basic health insurance system.

A Xinhua report on the National Health Commission's English site, updated 2026-08-26, says China launched family doctor contract services in 200 cities nationwide in 2016.

A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated September 30, 2021, says the plan designed for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) states that China should establish a multi-tiered medical-insurance system with universal coverage that benefits both urban and rural residents in a fair and sustainable way.

A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated March 16, 2022, says China will expand family doctor services to cover at least 75 percent of its population by 2035, according to a guideline jointly issued by six government departments, including the National Health Commission.

Recent documents

A China Daily report on the National Health Commission's English site, updated 2026-04-10, says China plans to accelerate the establishment of a tiered healthcare delivery system, according to a document released by the General Office of the State Council.

A Xinhua report on the National Health Commission's English site, updated 2026-08-26, says the National Health Commission, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently issued a circular outlining measures to further deepen and expand family doctor contract services.

Questions people ask

What did the reform opinions set off, according to the white paper?

When was the Healthy China plan published, according to the National Health Commission page?

A National Health Commission English page, updated 2016-10-27, says the CPC Central Committee and State Council published the "Healthy China 2030" plan on Oct 25.

What does the family doctor guideline say about population coverage?

Sources

Each source above was read on the date shown. This page is an unofficial summary of general administrative information. It is not published by the bodies named above, and it is not medical advice. If it differs from the official pages, the official pages prevail, and figures and rules may change after the check date.