Citizens of China can now enjoy the same level of health care, on an average, as people from medium and high income countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, Xiong Huang, director of the Publicity Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced on Friday.

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Huang also mentioned that a recent study shows that the life expectancy of Chinese Citizens have gone up one year, which means that more and more citizens will be enjoying a longer and healthier life.

Aside from the increase in life expectancy, it was also announced that the country's maternal mortality rate has gone down to 21.7 per 100,000 births in 2014 from 30 per 100,000 births in 2010. Meanwhile, infantile morality has gone down to 8.9 per 1,000 births in 2014 compared to 13.1 per 1,000 births in 2010. Also, China currently has a low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of tuberculosis is also on a steady decline.  As a result of these impressive figures, the country is ahead of schedule with its health-related United Nations Millenium Development Goals.

Huang was happy to report that China is also ahead of schedule with its Healthy China 2020 program.

In 2008, the Chinese government announced the Healthy China 2020 program which centers on the prevention of chronic diseases. It is also aimed at providing universal health care access as well as free treatments for all the citizens of China. Other aims of the Healthy China 2020 program include an increase in the life expectancy by the year 2020, an improvement in the public health index as well as a reduced mortality rate of children under five years of age.

Chinese authorities recently announced that the amount of money given as allowance to unemployed citizens will be increased to 380 Yuan. Authorities see the increase in allowances as an opportunity for citizens to afford proper food and housing, thus resulting to a healthier lifestyle.

TagsHealth news, World Health, China Health Indicators