National Health Authority informs, that China will help deter abortions and make fertility treatment more affordable in its efforts to increase one of the world's lowest birth rates.
Digital Desk: To increase the lowest birth rate in the world, China will take steps to discourage abortions and increase access to fertility treatments, according to health officials.
According to recommendations posted on the agency's website, support measures ranging from taxes and insurance to education and housing will be strengthened and implemented, and local governments will be pushed to expand child care services and family-friendly workplaces.
To increase public knowledge and "avoid unwanted pregnancies and reduce medically unnecessary abortions," authorities announced they would promote reproductive health.
One of the lowest fertility rates in the world in 2021, China's rate of 1.16 is significantly lower than the OECD standard of 2.1 for a stable population.
The rules were put in place because China's strict "zero COVID" policy, which involved carefully regulating people's lifestyles to stop the spread, may have seriously harmed people's desire to have kids. Demographers agree, though.
The national health care system would progressively incorporate assisted reproductive technologies, according to officials, who promised to guide local governments. In China, in vitro fertilization and similar technologies are typically exceedingly expensive and unavailable to single women.
According to demographers, China's 1.4 billion people will give birth to a record-low 10 million babies this year, down from 10.6 million the previous year.
China, which practiced a one-child policy from 1980 to 2015, has formally acknowledged that its population is in danger of declining. In 2016, it was amended to a two-child policy, and in 2021, it was altered once more to let couples have up to three children.
In recent years, authorities have started to implement policies, including tax breaks, increased health insurance, housing subsidies, additional money for a third kid, and a crackdown on pricey tutoring.
According to officials, these steps are necessary to "support the balanced long-term development of the people."
Over 9.5 million abortions were carried out between 2015 and 2019, according to a National Health Commission report published at the end of 2021.
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