Zhejiang’s county-level medical visit rate has reached 89.54%, and the gap in medical resources between urban and rural areas continues to narrow.

　　When high-quality medical resources are overly concentrated in major cities and large hospitals, how can we bridge the “last mile” of healthcare access in mountainous and island regions? In Zhejiang, an increasing number of residents in remote areas are seeing their aspiration to receive timely, affordable, and quality medical care right at their doorstep come true.
 
　　On the 18th, Zhejiang provincial authorities held the second in a series of press conferences marking the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the “88 Strategy” in Hangzhou. At the event, reporters learned that all counties, county-level cities, and districts in Zhejiang have now established standardized emergency and critical care centers for conditions such as chest pain, stroke, trauma, severe maternal emergencies, and critical pediatric and neonatal cases. Furthermore, 96% of township health centers (and community health service centers) are capable of performing outpatient surgeries, and the rate of patients seeking care within their home county has reached 89.54%.
 
　　Health is the most important indicator of a happy life. Over the past 20 years since the implementation of the “88 Strategy,” Zhejiang has consistently promoted high-quality, equitable access to health services across the entire life cycle, focusing on delivering landmark achievements under the “Healthy Zhejiang” and “Good Childcare in Zhejiang” initiatives, and striving to enhance the health and well-being of its people.
 
　　Throughout this process, Zhejiang has consistently prioritized primary-level and rural health services, striving to address shortcomings, strengthen weak areas, and enhance overall capacity.
 
　　At the press conference, Wang Renyuan, Party Secretary and Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission, stated that over the years, Zhejiang has continuously refined and expanded the “Rural Health Initiative,” successively implementing major programs such as the “Dual Decentralization and Dual Enhancement” project, the construction of county-level medical consortia, and the “Mountain–Sea” Healthcare Improvement Project. As a result, an integrated healthcare service system—shifting from a focus on “strong cities” and “strong counties” to “strong counties” and “strong primary care”—has been steadily strengthened, with the overall capacity of county-level medical services ranking among the highest in the country.
 
　　“Currently, more than 430 provincial and municipal experts are stationed year-round in mountainous and island areas, and each year over 5,000 doctors from county-level hospitals take up regular on‑call assignments at township health centers,” said Wang Renyuan.
 
　　Adhering to the principle of universal access and shared benefits, Zhejiang Province continues to optimize health services across the entire life cycle. For instance, with a focus on “quality early childhood care,” the province is accelerating the development of a proactive policy framework and public service system to support childbearing, expanding inclusive childcare services, and achieving 3.65 childcare places per 1,000 residents. In addressing “early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of priority diseases,” Zhejiang has pioneered a free health‑checkup program that offers uniform standards and coverage for both urban and rural residents, while also providing free influenza vaccinations to priority groups. With an emphasis on “smart health,” the province has innovatively launched 35 digital convenience measures, including “less waiting in line for medical visits,” “one‑stop birth‑related services,” and “no need to travel for blood‑use applications.”
 
　　According to statistics, the average life expectancy in Zhejiang Province has increased from 75.61 years in 2003 to 82.3 years in 2022, while the maternal mortality rate and the infant mortality rate have declined from 14.91 per 100,000 and 11.23 per thousand in 2003, respectively, to 1.99 per 100,000 and 1.58 per thousand in 2022.