By Fineline Cube 
The National Health Commission released the Statistical Bulletin on China’s Health Undertakings 2024, showing China’s average life expectancy reached 79 years, while maternal and infant mortality rates continued to decline. The bulletin highlights steady growth in healthcare resources, improved service efficiency, and successful cost control measures across the nation’s healthcare system.
Key Health Outcomes & Demographics
| Metric | 2024 Result | Change (YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Life Expectancy | 79 years | Steady improvement |
| Maternal Mortality Rate | 14.3 per 100,000 live births | Downward trend |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 4.0 per 1,000 live births | Downward trend |
Healthcare Infrastructure: Hospitals and Resources Expand
- Total Medical Institutions: 1,093,551 (+22,766 from previous year)
- Hospitals: 38,710 (+355 from previous year)
- Health Technicians: 13.02 million (+531,000, +4.3% increase)
- Township Health Centers: 33,334 with 1.501 million beds (slight decrease due to administrative mergers)
Healthcare Utilization & Hospital Efficiency
| Service Metric | 2024 Result | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total Medical Consultations | 10.15 billion | +600 million |
| Hospital Admissions | 311.92 million | +10.047 million |
| Hospital Bed Occupancy Rate | 78.8% (Public: 84.8%) | Improved efficiency |
| Average Length of Stay | 8.6 days (Public: 8.0 days) | Optimized care |
Cost Control: Hospitalization and Outpatient Expenses Decline
- Average Hospitalization Expense: RMB 9,870.0 (-4.3% current prices, -4.5% comparable prices)
- Average Outpatient Expense: RMB 361.0 (-0.2% current prices, -0.4% comparable prices)
Health Expenditure Reaches RMB 9 Trillion, 6.7% of GDP
- Total Health Expenditure: RMB 9,089.55 billion
- Government: RMB 2,260.8 billion (24.9%)
- Social: RMB 4,328 billion (47.6%)
- Personal: RMB 2,500.75 billion (27.5%)
- Per Capita Health Expenditure: RMB 6,454.4
- Health Expenditure as % of GDP: 6.7%
Market Implications & Policy Outlook
- Healthcare Investment: Steady 4.3% growth in health technicians signals continued employment expansion in the sector.
- Efficiency Gains: Improved hospital bed occupancy rates and shorter stays indicate better resource utilization amid rising demand.
- Cost Management: Declining per-case expenses demonstrate successful cost-control policies, potentially easing pressure on insurance funds.
- GDP Impact: Health expenditure at 6.7% of GDP reflects the sector’s growing economic importance.
Forward‑Looking Statements
This bulletin contains forward‑looking implications regarding China’s healthcare policy direction, resource allocation trends, and market opportunities. Actual future outcomes may differ due to demographic shifts, policy changes, and economic conditions.-Fineline Info & Tech