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China aims to broaden insurance coverage for childbirth-related medical expenses and strengthen support for pharmaceutical innovation in the coming year, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration.

国家医疗保障局表示，中国计划在未来一年扩大生育相关医疗费用的保险覆盖范围，并加强对医药创新的支持力度。

The goals were outlined in a report delivered by Zhang Ke, director of the administration, at its annual work conference on Saturday. The report reviewed progress in healthcare security during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and detailed priority areas for 2026.

这些目标由国家医疗保障局主任章轲在周六举行的年度工作会议上提交的报告中提出。该报告回顾了“十四五”规划期间（2021-2025年）医疗保障工作的进展，并详细列出了2026年的重点工作领域。

To adapt to demographic shifts marked by declining birth rates and a rapidly aging population, the report said maternity insurance coverage for prenatal checkups will be reasonably expanded within the financial capacity of the insurance fund.

为应对生育率下降和人口快速老龄化的人口结构变化，报告指出将在保险基金财力范围内合理扩大孕产妇保险的产前检查覆盖范围。

Authorities will explore the creation of a basic service package that incorporates prenatal examinations, aiming to ease the financial burden on families.

相关部门将研究推出包含产前检查的基本服务套餐，旨在减轻家庭的经济负担。

By next year, the goal is to achieve nationwide full reimbursement for all policy-covered medical expenses related to childbirth, enabling insured expectant mothers to incur almost no out-of-pocket costs for covered services.

到明年，目标是实现全国范围内对所有与分娩相关的保险覆盖医疗费用全额报销，使参保孕妇在享受保险覆盖服务时几乎无需承担自付费用。

Additional expenses, such as those for premium hospital wards or medications not included in the reimbursement list, will remain uncovered.

但例如高级病房费用或未列入报销清单的药品等的额外费用，仍将不予覆盖。

So far, seven provincial-level regions, including Jilin, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces, have implemented policies that make childbirth nearly free of charge.

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