During the 2026 annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (known as the “Two Sessions”), China released its 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP), outlining its strategic vision through 2030. This plan details a comprehensive agenda aimed at consolidating and advancing the foundations for modernization established during the 14th FYP period, reflecting strong policy continuity.
Under the 15th FYP, the policy agenda for the health sector is set to shift from building foundations to optimizing operations and enhancing efficiency. This refinement is reflected in Beijing’s vision for public health intervention, patient care and medical products. In comparison to the 14th FYP, which used general terms to call for planning and system building for various diseases, the latest plan elaborates on more targeted tasks within the established frameworks.
China places major importance on five-year plans within its governance framework. They are utilized as centralized policy blueprints to align national resources towards key development priorities for each stage. Based on this top-level design, central and local authorities including those in the healthcare sector formulate more detailed implementation plans to guide specific operational policy development and execution. These cascading plans play a critical role in shaping the trajectory of the healthcare system and its stakeholders.
Public Health: From Disease-Centered to Health-Centered Care
During the 15th FYP period, China aims to advance a fundamental shift in population health management from a disease-centered model to a more holistic health-centered approach. Rather than focusing primarily on disease-specific treatment, new policies will increasingly emphasize risk factor reduction and early intervention across the disease continuum.
This transition is particularly significant in addressing non-communicable diseases, which continue to impose a growing health burden amidst the aging demographic. The 15th FYP prioritizes enhanced early detection and intervention for common mental health conditions, while broadening the scope of public health services to include chronic diseases, occupational health and nutrition. It also promotes initiatives such as healthy weight management and lifestyle improvements, including increased physical activity and better dietary habits. These evolving priorities are likely to create new opportunities for multinational companies operating in relevant sectors, while also offering a framework for aligning corporate engagement strategies with government-led health objectives.
Access to Patient Care and Medical Products: From Expanding Services to Enhancing Equity
A key evolution in China’s patient care strategy is a shift from service expansion to system optimization and resource allocation, with greater emphasis on quality and efficiency to provide more accessible care to a broader population (especially on the primary care level). The FYP features measures to widen access to higher quality and more coordinated treatments across the system, such as enhanced operational support for county and district-level medical institutions and digitization measures for test-result sharing between different levels of care.
The financial accessibility of healthcare services and medical products constitutes another critical component of overall access. Over the next five years, China is expected to better standardize medical service pricing across regions, promote greater commercial insurance coverage for innovative therapies and improve the efficiency of medical insurance funds while reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
These policy reforms are particularly significant for pharmaceutical and medical device companies operating in China. Pricing and reimbursement frameworks will directly influence procurement decisions, as well as how healthcare systems and patients assess the value of medical products—both of which are key determinants of market access. As China progresses in aligning the value of care delivery and medical products at both regional and national levels, multinational companies are likely to encounter more standardized practices across provinces. However, these frameworks are expected to remain dynamic, evolving in response to challenges arising during the implementation of ongoing reforms.
Domestic Technological Capabilities Critical to Advancing the Healthcare Ecosystem
China also recognizes that the effectiveness and sustainability of these reforms depend on the strength of a self-reliant domestic healthcare ecosystem, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. As a result, the development of core technologies underpinning healthcare delivery has been integrated into China’s broader strategy of achieving technological self-reliance, supported through enhanced investment in research and development, industrialization and ecosystem building.
The 15th FYP identifies domestic high-end medical devices and medtech innovation as key priorities. Multinational corporations (MNCs) should anticipate stronger policy support for domestic innovation, alongside measures aimed at accelerating the growth of local competitors. As domestic players continue to advance, MNCs will need to further differentiate themselves by building sustainable competitive advantages across both products and service offerings. One potential avenue for differentiation lies in artificial intelligence (AI). As China positions itself to lead in next-generation technologies and unlock productivity gains, the government is expected to actively promote the adoption of AI across a wide range of healthcare applications.
China continues to view foreign investment as an important driver of economic growth. MNCs are therefore encouraged to localize both research and development and manufacturing activities, deepening their integration into China’s healthcare supply chain. Strengthening participation in local ecosystem development will be critical for maintaining relevance and competitiveness in an evolving policy and market landscape.
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