Published by ChinaMNC · Yuncheng

China's Health Sector Priorities: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

A national health conference chaired by Xi Jinping outlines priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), with implications for foreign entrepreneurs in healthcare, medtech, and related industries.

China's Health Sector Priorities: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

On October 12-13, 2026, China held its National Health Conference in Beijing. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address that set the direction for the health sector during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). For foreign founders considering China-related opportunities in healthcare, medtech, pharmaceuticals, or wellness, the conference signals key policy priorities and areas of focus.

Below is a summary of the main points from the official readout, framed as practical guidance for foreign entrepreneurs.

1. Health as a National Priority

Xi emphasized that people's health is a key indicator of national prosperity and strength. Since the 18th Party Congress, the government has placed health security in a strategic position of priority development and launched the Healthy China initiative. The country has built what it describes as the world's largest systems for medical services, traditional medicine, disease prevention and control, and medical insurance. These achievements are presented as historic and comprehensive.

For foreign founders, this means healthcare remains a top government priority. Sectors aligned with national health goals—such as preventive care, chronic disease management, and health technology—may find supportive policy environments.

2. Vision for a Healthy China by 2035

The goal is to build a Healthy China by 2035. According to Xi, this Healthy China should be balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient. It should possess strong capabilities in health management, disease prevention and control, medical services, medical insurance support, pharmaceutical innovation, and talent development. It should also meet the people's growing health needs and steadily improve major health indicators.

Foreign founders can interpret this as a focus on quality and accessibility. Companies offering innovative solutions that enhance these capabilities may find opportunities.

3. Health-First Development Strategy

Xi stressed that health is foundational and affects all sectors. Therefore, a health-first development strategy must be implemented. This means integrating health considerations into all policies and work. In planning, policy design, project evaluation, and construction, the impact on people's health should be prioritized.

4. Prevention as the Most Cost-Effective Strategy

Prevention is highlighted as the most economical and effective health strategy. The focus is on foundational and source-level health work to strengthen the foundation of public health. Specific measures include:

• Guiding society to adopt a correct health outlook and engage in effective health self-management.
• Helping young people develop good study and lifestyle habits for all-round development.
• Creating a good ecological and living environment, and encouraging fitness and healthy leisure activities.
• Strengthening food safety supervision to protect "safety on the tip of the tongue."
• Improving the disease prevention and control system to prevent large-scale epidemics.

Foreign founders in preventive health, food safety technology, fitness, and environmental health may find these areas ripe for innovation and investment.

5. Improving Medical Service Levels

Improving medical services is a key task. Xi called for:

• Implementing a project to strengthen the foundation of medical and health services.
• Optimizing the layout and functions of medical institutions and promoting tiered diagnosis and treatment so people can access care nearby.
• Strengthening comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases, and improving the full chain of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and management services.
• Improving mechanisms for the inheritance, innovation, and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and enhancing coordination between Chinese and Western medicine.
• Strengthening basic research and original innovation in health, promoting commercialization of research outcomes, and expanding the health industry.
• Improving the patient experience and increasing convenience and satisfaction.

These points suggest opportunities in health tech, chronic disease management, TCM innovation, and medical service optimization. Foreign companies with expertise in these areas may find partnership or investment avenues.

6. Reform as a Driving Force

Reform is seen as a powerful driver for health development. The main direction is the coordinated development and governance of medical services, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals. Key measures include:

• Fully implementing reform plans for public medical institutions.
• Deepening public hospital reform with a focus on public welfare.
• Strengthening operational support for county-level and primary healthcare institutions.
• Building a multi-tiered medical insurance system.
• Optimizing centralized procurement of drugs and consumables, medical insurance payment, and fund use policies to ensure fund safety, hospital operation, and reasonable patient burden.
• Improving drug supply and use mechanisms, the national essential medicines system, and drug quality and safety supervision.

Foreign founders in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health insurance tech should note the emphasis on cost control, quality, and innovation. The centralized procurement mechanism may affect pricing strategies, while the push for innovation could favor high-value products.

7. Talent and Workforce Development

Building a strong workforce is essential. Xi called for selecting capable leaders for health authorities and medical institutions, and building a team of medical personnel with sufficient numbers, reasonable structure, and high quality. He also emphasized medical ethics, professional conduct, and fostering a society that respects doctors and values health.

For foreign founders, this indicates a focus on human capital. Companies offering training, education technology, or HR solutions for healthcare may find demand.

8. Global Health Cooperation

Xi noted that health for all is a shared vision of humanity. He called for actively building a global community of health for all, jointly addressing major health challenges, and improving health and well-being of people in all countries. Specific actions include:

• Deepening cooperation in health under the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Strengthening and innovating foreign health aid.
• Telling the story of Healthy China to build international consensus.

Foreign founders with global health projects or those interested in Belt and Road health cooperation may find collaborative opportunities.

9. Implementation and Focus Areas

Premier Li Qiang, in his summary, stressed the need to implement Xi's speech. He outlined several focus areas:

• Firmly following the path of health development with Chinese characteristics.
• Establishing a health-first orientation and promoting coordinated development of people's health and the economy.
• Adhering to the public welfare nature of basic medical and health services.
• Balancing basic guarantees with quality improvement to meet diverse health needs.
• Deepening reform, innovation, and opening-up to enhance the vitality of health development.

He also called for tackling pain points and bottlenecks, focusing on urgent issues such as major disease prevention and control, building a tiered diagnosis and treatment system, optimizing patient experience, constructing a multi-tiered medical insurance system, leveraging TCM advantages, providing health services for the elderly and children, and promoting tech-enabled health development.

10. Implications for Foreign Founders

Based on the conference, foreign founders should note the following:

• Policy support for innovation: The emphasis on basic research, original innovation, and commercialization suggests opportunities for R&D-intensive companies.
• Preventive care and chronic disease management: These areas are prioritized, with potential for digital health solutions.
• TCM integration: The push for TCM innovation and integration with Western medicine may open doors for collaborations.
• Healthcare reform: Changes in insurance, procurement, and hospital management may create openings for health IT and consulting services.
• Global cooperation: Belt and Road health initiatives offer platforms for international partnerships.

While the conference sets direction, specific regulations and implementation details will follow. Foreign founders should monitor subsequent policy documents and consider engaging local partners to navigate the evolving landscape.

For assistance with company registration and operations in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.