China to Launch Three-Year Action to Improve Primary Healthcare

Original from: Xinhua News

To ensure the quality and safety of medical services in primary healthcare institutions, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and other relevant authorities issued a notice on 1 April 2026, outlining a three-year nationwide action.

The action plan follows a clear timeline:

-        By the end of 2026, it will cover township health centers (including county-level secondary centers) and community health centers with at least 30 operational beds, establishing comprehensive medical quality management systems and normalizing quality management practices. 

-        By the end of 2027, the scope will expand to other township health centers and community health centers. 

-        By the end of 2028, village clinics and community health service stations will be included, with a nationwide primary medical quality management system largely established.

Emphasizing the management of medical quality and safety in primary healthcare institutions, the plan sets out nine key tasks across three main areas in management systems, staff training, and critical clinical processes. 

These tasks are:

-        Improve medical quality management systems.

-        Conduct training for medical personnel.

-        Enhance outpatient services.

-        Improve emergency and critical care quality.

-        Promote standardized and rational use of medications.

-        Ensure quality of laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging. 

This includes establishing end-to-end quality management systems, strengthening internal laboratory quality control, participating in inter-laboratory quality assessments, improving report accuracy and completeness, enabling data sharing and mutual recognition within medical alliances, and implementing critical value reporting systems to enhance timeliness and reliability.

-        Enhance nursing service quality.

-        Strengthen hospital infection control.

-        Improve inpatient and surgical care quality.

Source: 我国将开展基层医疗质量改善三年行动