China Expands National Insurance to Cover Free Fertility Treatments

China's healthcare authorities have announced plans to offer free fertility treatments as part of the national insurance scheme, ming to reverse the alarming decrease in birth rates across the country.

The National Healthcare Security Administration stated that it will expand coverage to assist families seeking to start a family. This initiative includes covering assisted reproductive techniques and labor analgesia for childbirth pn relief. The most common form of such treatment is in vitro fertilization IVF.

By adding infertility treatments like ovulation-inducing drugs, the government seeks to reduce the burden on those facing difficulty conceiving, according to an official statement from the administration.

This comprehensive approach comes at a time when China's population has been experiencing a significant decline. It witnessed its first-ever population decrease in 2022 since the National Bureau of Statistics reported a drop of approximately 850,000 people compared to the previous year.

The fertility rate hit an all-time low last year with only 6.77 births per thousand inhabitants a stark contrast from the 10.62 million births in 2021.

Challenges such as delayed marriage and childbearing are increasingly common among Chinese women, often due to financial concerns and prioritizing career advancements. Experts suggest that expanded access to costly procedures like IVF could mitigate some of these pressures.

With 539 approved medical institutions for assisted reproductive techniques and 27 sperm banks operational by June 2021 in China, the government is facilitating more than one million IVF cycles annually.

The declining population growth poses significant challenges to China's economic development. The country introduced stringent policies decades ago, including a one-child policy med at addressing fears of overpopulation and alleviating poverty pressures.

Following its introduction of two-child policies in 2015, the government further relaxed restrictions by allowing up to three children per family in an effort to stabilize demographics and workforce stability.

In another development, Sichuan Province - home to over 83 million people – has recently announced that it would allow the birth registration for children born outside wedlock. This move grants unmarried mothers access to benefits previously exclusive to married couples, such as maternity insurance which covers prenatal healthcare expenses, childbirth-related costs, and pd maternity leave.

Chinese policymakers are closely watching China's demographic crisis implications on economic growth.

The evolving policies demonstrate China's comprehensive approach towards tackling population decline and fostering a healthier demographic balance.
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