China Mandates Epidural Anesthesia in Hospitals to Support Childbirth and Boost Birth Rates
- Rahaman Hadisur
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
In a significant step toward creating a more supportive environment for childbirth, China has mandated that all tertiary-level hospitals offer epidural anesthesia during labor by the end of 2025, aiming to enhance the comfort and well-being of expectant mothers.
The directive, issued by China’s National Health Commission (NHC) last week, requires tertiary hospitals those with more than 500 beds to implement epidural services by 2025, while secondary hospitals with over 100 beds must comply by 2027.
This move comes as China grapples with a declining birth rate, with the population shrinking for the third consecutive year in 2024. Experts warn that the demographic downturn is likely to intensify in the coming years unless substantial reforms are made to make parenthood more accessible and attractive.
Currently, only about 30% of pregnant women in China receive anesthesia during childbirth, compared to over 70% in many developed countries, including 82% in France and over 67% in the United States and Canada, according to official reports and WHO data.
The NHC emphasized that the policy will “improve the comfort level and security of medical services” and “enhance people’s sense of happiness” while fostering a “friendly childbearing environment.”
Financial Support and Fertility Policies
To make childbirth more affordable, a growing number of provinces in China are also moving to include epidural anesthesia costs under medical insurance coverage, aiming to ease the financial burden on families.
At the same time, authorities in various regions are introducing additional incentives to support families. In June, Sichuan Province proposed to extend marriage leave to 25 days and maternity leave to 150 days, underscoring a broader push toward building a “fertility-friendly society.”
Despite these efforts, high childcare expenses, job insecurity, and a sluggish economy remain major concerns for young Chinese couples. These factors have contributed not only to declining birth rates, but also to a drop in new marriages and a rise in divorce rates, as reported earlier this year.
As China faces the challenges of an aging population and shrinking workforce, policymakers are hoping that expanded access to childbirth pain relief and improved maternal care will encourage more couples to consider starting families.
