By staff writer
As China enters a new stage of demographic transformation, increasing the life expectancy and improving the overall health of its elderly population has become both an urgent task and a long-term national strategy. By 2030, China aims to raise its average life expectancy to 80 years—one year longer than in 2024—and achieve major health indicators comparable to those of high-income countries. Behind these goals lies a systematic approach centered on reform, prevention, and the guiding principle of putting health first.
China’s rapid aging presents unique challenges but also motivates innovation. According to national plans, the National Health Commission will advance a health-first strategy that places population well-being at the core of modernization. This vision recognizes that health is not merely a social service delivered after economic progress but a foundational resource that supports long-term development. As the Commission states, “Putting health first is both a development goal and a support for the process of China’s modernization drive.” This dual-purpose perspective is central to the country’s evolving health governance model.
At the heart of this approach is a shift in focus—from treating illness to promoting health. China’s health reforms emphasize prevention, early intervention, and continuous care across the lifespan. For the elderly population, this means expanding access to primary care, improving chronic disease management, and integrating medical services with eldercare institutions. As chronic diseases increasingly account for the majority of health burdens among older adults, China’s experience illustrates how targeted management of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive decline can significantly extend healthy life expectancy.
Another practical lesson lies in strengthening community-level healthcare. China has been investing heavily in township hospitals, community health centers, and village clinics to improve the capacity of local medical institutions. These grassroots facilities are the first line of defense for detecting diseases early and ensuring routine follow-up care. By improving the training of general practitioners and promoting family doctor contracting services, China is developing a health service model that is accessible, affordable, and tailored to the needs of the elderly.
In addition, China is advancing reforms designed to improve the efficiency and equity of the healthcare system. Efforts include expanding medical insurance coverage, optimizing resource distribution, and promoting digital health technologies. Telemedicine, online consultations, and smart health monitoring systems have become crucial, especially for older adults in remote or rural areas. These innovations not only enhance access to care but also reduce the burden on large hospitals, ensuring that treatment is more balanced across regions.
Environmental and lifestyle improvements constitute another important component of China’s strategy. Recognizing that longevity depends not only on medical intervention but also on living conditions, the government has focused on creating healthier cities, promoting nutritious diets, expanding opportunities for exercise, and encouraging healthier behaviors. Public education campaigns on smoking cessation, mental health, and elderly fitness have played a significant role in shaping healthier habits across the population.
China’s experience offers valuable lessons for other countries facing similar demographic shifts. The combination of long-term planning, systemic reform, grassroots service enhancement, and integration of health with social development provides a comprehensive blueprint for improving elderly well-being. By framing health as both a developmental goal and a driver of modernization, China demonstrates how investing in population health can yield benefits far beyond the medical sector—strengthening social stability, boosting productivity, and ensuring sustainable progress.
As China moves toward 2030 with the ambition of achieving an average life expectancy of 80 years, the country is charting a path that links health reform with the broader national vision. The lessons emerging from this process—putting health first, prioritizing prevention, strengthening primary care, and leveraging innovation—highlight the transformative potential of a health-centered approach to development.
