Timeline of healthcare in China
This is a timeline of healthcare in China, focusing especially on modern science-based medicine healthcare. Major events such as crises, policies and organizations are included.
Big Picture
Year/period |
Key developments |
|---|---|
2500BP-1949 |
Traditional Chinese Medicine prevails in this time which covers most of the history of China. Chinese herbology, acupuncture, dietary therapy, tai chi, tui na and qigong thrive. Around the 19th century, western-inspired evidence-based medicine makes its way into the country. |
1949–1980 |
With modern medicine already established, after the Communist Party takes over in 1949, healthcare is nationalized. A national "patriotic health campaign" is attempted to address basic health and hygiene education, and basic primary care is dispatched to rural areas through barefoot doctors and other state-sponsored programs. During this period, Infant mortality falls from 200 to 34 per 1000 live births, and life expectancy increases from about 35 to 68 years. |
1978–present |
Period of economic liberalization. The rural cooperative medical system disintegrates and the barefoot doctors program comes to an end. The increase in the elderly population and their lack of health insurance and pensions will also place enormous pressure on services for their care. All these changes have great impact on the rural health care system, leaving the urban system basically intact, and contribute to the rural-urban disparity in health care. Period of one-child policy. |
Full Timeline
Year/period |
Type of event |
Event |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
11th Century BC – 771 BC |
Organization |
In the Western Zhou dynasty, imperial doctors are divided into four departments: Dietetic (food and beverage hygiene); Diseases (internal medicine); Sores (external medicine); and Veterinary. |
|
770 BCE – AD 221 |
Compilation |
Medical researchers compile the written records and oral knowledge of Chinese medicine from the previous ages and write the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. This book systematizes and consolidates ancient medical experience and theory into one compendium. |
|
265 AD – 907 AD |
Development |
During the Jin and Tang dynasties, Chinese medicine experiences great development. In the study of the origins of disease, diagnosis, pharmacology, specialization, medical training, and other aspects, great achievements are made. |
|
960 AD – 1368 AD |
Development |
During the Song and Yuan periods, due to the invention of printing technology and further advances in paper making, large quantities of Chinese medical texts are printed and published. This causes Chinese medicine to spread, giving rise to widespread and deep research. |
|
1700s |
Development |
The earliest contemporary hospitals begin to appear in China in the form of missionary hospitals run by western churches. |
|
1844 |
Organization (hospital) |
Renji Hospital is founded. |
Shanghai |
1876–1879 |
Crisis |
Northern Chinese Famine kills an estimated 13 million people. |
Shaanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong and Jiangsu. |
1883 |
Organization (hospital) |
Sheng Jing Hospital is established. |
Shenyang |
1894 |
Organization (medical school) |
Hebei Medical University is established. |
Shijiazhuang |
1901 |
Organization (hospital) |
Haikou City People's Hospital is founded. |
Haikou |
1905 |
Policy |
The central government establishes a Sanitary Department. |
|
1907 |
Organization (hospital) |
Ruijin Hospital is founded. |
Shanghai |
1907 |
Organization (medical school) |
Tongji Medical College is established. |
Wuhan |
1908 |
Organization (medical school) |
Kung Yee Medical School and Hospital is established. |
Guangzhou |
1912 |
Organization (medical school) |
Wenzhou Medical College is established. |
Wenzhou |
1912 |
Organization (medical school) |
Zhejiang University School of Medicine is established. |
Hangzhou |
1912 |
Organization (medical school) |
Peking University Health Science Center is established. |
Beijing |
1912 |
Organization (medical school) |
Suzhou Medical College is established. |
Suzhou |
1917 |
Organization (medical school) |
Peking Union Medical College is established. |
Beijing |
1919 |
Organization (medical school) |
Shanxi Medical University is established. |
Shanxi |
1921 |
Organization (medical school) |
Xiamen University is established. |
Xiamen |
1921 |
Organization (medical school) |
Medical College of Nanchang University is established. |
Nanchang |
1927 |
Organization (medical school) |
Fudan University Shanghai Medical College is established. |
Shanghai |
1928–1930 |
Crisis |
Famine kills about 3 million people. |
Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu |
1930-1939 |
Development |
The Rural Reconstruction Movement pioneers village health workers trained in basic health as a part of a coordinated system of rural uplift programs in the areas of health, education, employment etc. |
|
1933 |
Organization (medical school) |
Kunming Medical University is established. |
Kunming |
1934 |
Organization (medical school) |
Nanjing Medical University is established. |
Zhenjiang |
1935 |
Organization (hospital) |
Shanghai Mental Health Center is founded. |
Shanghai |
1937 |
Organization (medical school) |
Fujian Medical University is founded. |
Fuzhou |
1937 |
Organization (hospital) |
Shanghai Children's Hospital is founded. |
Shanghai |
1941 |
Organization (medical school) |
Fourth Military Medical University is established. |
Xi'an |
1942–1943 |
Crisis |
Famine kills 2 to 3 million people. |
Henan |
1945 |
Organization (medical school) |
Chengde Medical College is founded. |
Hebei |
1946 |
Organization (medical school) |
Changzhi Medical College is established. |
Changzhi |
1946 |
Organization (medical school) |
Liaoning Medical University is established. |
Jinzhou |
1947 |
Organization (medical school) |
Chengdu Medical College is established. |
Chengdu |
1947 |
Organization (medical school) |
Dalian Medical University is founded. |
Dalian |
1949 |
Background |
Inauguration of the People’s Republic of China. At this time the country has 40,000 doctors to care for a population of nearly 540 million. Despite a low urbanization rate, most physicians are concentrated in cities. |
|
1949 |
Organization (hospital) |
Tianjin First Central Hospital is founded. |
Tianjin |
1950-1959 |
Campaign |
Period of the Patriotic Health Campaigns. |
|
1951 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals is founded as a pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution company. |
Guangzhou |
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
Tianjin Medical University is established. It is the first medical institution approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. |
Tianjin |
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
Southwest Medical University is established. |
luzhou |
1951 |
Organization (hospital) |
Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University is founded. |
|
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
Weifang Medical University is established. |
Weifang |
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
Southern Medical University is established. |
Guangzhou |
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
Sichuan Medical University is established. |
Luzhou |
1951 |
Organization (medical school) |
North Sichuan Medical University is established. |
Nanchong |
1953 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
North China Pharmaceutical Group Corp is founded. |
|
1954 |
Organization |
The Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China (MOH) is established. |
|
1956 |
Organization (medical school) |
Xinjiang Medical University is established. |
Xinjiang |
1956 |
Organization (medical school) |
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine is founded. |
Beijing |
1956 |
Organization (medical school) |
Chongqing Medical University is founded. |
Chongqing |
1956 |
Crisis |
An outbreak of the Influenza A virus subtype H2N2 occurs. |
Guizhou |
1957 |
Organization (hospital) |
Shanghai Chest Hospital is founded. |
Shanghai |
1957 |
Report |
There are over 200,000 village doctors across the nation, enabling farmers to receive basic health care at home and work every day. |
|
1958 |
Organization (medical school) |
Bengbu Medical College is founded. |
Bengbu |
1958 |
Organization (medical school) |
Ningxia Medical University is founded. |
Yinchuan |
1958 |
Organization (medical school) |
Wannan Medical College is established. |
Wuhu |
1958 |
Campaign |
The Four Pests Campaign is initiated by Mao Zedong, who identifies the need to exterminate mosquitoes, flies, rats, and sparrows. |
|
1958 |
Organization (hospital) |
Xinhua Hospital is founded. |
Shanghai |
1958–1959 |
Campaign |
The massive Great Leap Forward campaign is set to rapidly transform China into a modern communist society. |
|
1959–1961 |
Crisis |
The Great Chinese Famine leads to from about 15 million excess deaths (government statistics) to 30 million (scholarly estimates) It is widely considered to be the direct consequence of the Great Leap Forward. |
|
1960 |
Organization (medical school) |
Capital University of Medical Sciences is founded. |
Beijing |
1965 |
Mao Zedong's speech on health care mentions the concept of "barefoot doctor". |
||
1965 |
Organization (medical school) |
Hubei University of Medicine is established. |
Shiyan |
1967 |
Campaign |
The Project 523 is launched with the purpose of finding new drugs for malaria, a disease claiming many lives at the time. More than 500 Chinese scientists recruited. Artemisinin is discovered. Officially terminated in 1981. |
|
1968 |
Policy |
The barefoot doctors (farmers who receive minimal basic medical and paramedical training) program becomes integrated into national policy. In areas lacking medicine or urban-trained doctors, village doctors can go through short-term training – three months, six months, a year – before returning to their villages to farm and practise medicine.{{cite journal |
doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61355-0 |
1970 |
Organization (medical school) |
Binzhou Medical College is established. |
Binzhou |
1971 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group is founded. |
Taizhou |
1976 |
Background |
Mao Zedong dies. |
|
1978 |
Background |
The Communist Deng Xiaoping becomes paramount leader of China, giving birth to a new era of reforms. |
|
1979 |
Organization (medical school) |
Clinical Medicine College of Hangzhou Normal University is founded. |
Hangzhou |
1980 |
Policy |
One-child policy is introduced as a part of the family planning policy. |
|
1980–1989 |
Study |
The China–Cornell–Oxford Project is conducted to examine the diets, lifestyle, and disease characteristics of 6,500 people. |
65 rural counties |
1981 |
Organization |
The National Family Planning Commission is formed. Dissolved in 2003. |
|
1984 |
Reform |
The government starts to implement free-market reforms. Free medical care is abolished. |
|
1985 |
Policy |
The Ministry of Health officially cancels the title of barefoot doctor. Those able to pass qualifying examinations are now termed “rural doctors”, while others are re-categorized as health workers or medical aides. |
|
1985 |
Organization |
China’s State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) is established. |
|
1989 |
Project |
The China Health and Nutrition Survey is started. |
|
1989 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
CSPC Zhongrun is founded as a pharmaceutical manufacturer. |
|
1989 |
Organization (medical school) |
Changsha Medical University is founded. |
Changsha |
1993 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Jilin Aodong Medicine is established as a state-owned enterprise that manufactures patent drugs and pharmaceutical packaging products. |
Dunhua |
1994 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Tasly is founded. Notably producer of traditional Chinese medicines. |
Tianjin |
1995 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Tiens Group is founded. |
Tianjin |
1995 |
Organization (Healthcare provider) |
Shenzhen Goldway Industrial is founded as a manufacturer of medical devices. |
Shenzhen |
1995 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
China Nepstar is founded as a drugstore chain. |
Shenzhen |
1997 |
Background |
Deng Xiaoping dies. |
|
1998 |
Policy |
Health insurance becomes available for working urban residents through the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) program, which covers employees in private and state-owned enterprises, government, social organizations, and non-profits. |
|
1998 |
Organization (hospital) |
Shanghai Children's Medical Center is founded. |
Shanghai |
1999 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Haifu is established as a manufacturer of non-invasive ultrasound therapeutic systems for tumors. |
Chongqing |
2000 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Guizhentang Pharmaceutical company is founded as a company that profits from extracting bile out of Bile bears to make traditional Chinese medicine. |
Quanzhou |
2000 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
WuXi PharmaTech is founded. |
Shanghai |
2000 |
Organization (healthcare provider) |
Zhuhai Fornia Medical Device Company is founded as a Chinese-American joint venture that manufactures medical devices. |
Zhuhai |
2000 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Sinovac Biotech is founded as a manufacturer of vaccines against human infectious diseases. |
Beijing |
2002 |
Policy |
The system of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is established by the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, creating a nationwide infrastructure for disease control and prevention. |
|
2002–2003 |
Crisis |
The Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic outbreaks in China. |
Guangdong Province |
2003 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
China National Pharmaceutical Group is founded. It is the largest pharmaceutical company in China. |
Beijing |
2003 |
Organization (pharmaceutical company) |
Nanjing Ange Pharmaceutical is founded as a [...] manufacturer. |
Nanjing |
2003 |
Organization |
The National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) supersedes the National Family Planning Commission. Dissolved in 2013. |
|
2005 |
Organization (hospital) |
Beijing New Century International Hospital for Children is founded. |
Beijing |
2007 |
Organization |
Zhejiang Xinhua Compassion Education Foundation is founded as an NGO to address malnourished children in rural China. |
|
2007 |
Execution |
Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of the State Food and [...] Administration, is executed for corruption. |
|
2008 |
Crisis |
Chinese milk scandal: It involves milk and infant formula along with other food materials and components being adulterated with melamine. An estimated 300,000 victims reported. Six infants die from kidney stones and other kidney damage with an estimated 54,000 babies being hospitalized. |
|
2010 |
Study |
The Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) is launched in 2010 by the Institute of Social Science Survey (ISSS) of Peking University. |
|
2011 |
Study |
The The Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) is conducted in order to examine health and economic adjustments to rapid ageing of the population in China. |
|
2011 |
Report |
Medical and healthcare institutions around the country number 954,000, licensed doctors (assistants) reach 2,466,000, or 1.8 per thousand people, registered nurses total 2,244,000, or 1.7 per thousand people, hospital beds reach 5,160,000, or 3.8 per thousand people. |
|
2012 |
Achievement |
Health insurance reaches 95 percent of the Chinese population. |
|
2013 |
Organization |
The National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHFPC) supersedes the NPFPC. |
Beijing |
2015 |
Policy |
The Chinese news agency Xinhua announces plans of the government to abolish the one-child policy, now allowing all families to have two children. |
|
See also
- Healthcare in China
- Health in China
- Timeline of healthcare in India
- Timeline of healthcare in Japan