China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) recently issued the notice on naming 33 of China's cities (districts) as national demonstration cities for infant and childcare services. The commissions will select demonstration cities every two years.

Yang Wenzhuang, Director-General of NHC's Department of Population Surveillance and Family Development, noted the selection of the demonstration cities may generate enthusiasm of social forces to improve the infant care and childcare services across the country.

The notice urged the demonstration cities to deepen their efforts to provide various forms of publicly accessible childcare services, and to gradually improve the policy and regulation system, the standard and specification system, and the supply system for infant and childcare services.

To improve children's overall health, and to help parents take better care of their kids, the General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China promulgated, in April 2019, the directive on improving services related to taking care of children aged 3 and under.

Yang said the commissions will continue making greater efforts to improve the overall quality of the country's infant and childcare services.

(Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)