Published by ChinaMNC · Donghu
China’s State Council Approves Medical Rehabilitation and Nursing Expansion Plan: What Foreign Founders Operating in China Should Know
China’s State Council has approved a national plan to expand and improve medical rehabilitation and nursing services. For foreign founders with healthcare-related businesses in China, this signals potential opportunities and regulatory focus areas. Here’s a factual overview of the plan’s objectives and implementation approach.
China’s State Council Approves Medical Rehabilitation and Nursing Expansion Plan
On September 28, 2026, China’s State Council issued a formal reply (Guohan [2026] No. 99) approving the Implementation Plan for the Expansion and Improvement of Medical Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. The plan was submitted by the National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission. For foreign founders operating or planning to establish healthcare-related businesses in China, this policy development may shape the regulatory and market environment for rehabilitation and nursing services.
What the Plan Covers
The State Council’s reply outlines the guiding principles and implementation requirements for the plan. Key points include:
- Policy alignment: The plan must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and implement the healthy China strategy and the national strategy for actively responding to population aging.
- Core focus: The plan emphasizes “expansion, quality improvement, balance, and continuity” (扩容、提质、均衡、连续). It prioritizes primary-level (grassroots) facilities and aims to increase the supply of medical rehabilitation and nursing resources in a coordinated manner.
- Service system goals: The objective is to accelerate the construction of a medical rehabilitation and nursing service system that is functionally complete, vertically integrated, combines Chinese and Western medicine, and is efficient and accessible. The system should better meet the health needs of the entire population across all dimensions and throughout the life cycle.
Implementation Responsibilities
The reply assigns specific responsibilities to different levels of government:
- Provincial governments: Provincial, autonomous region, and municipal governments are required to strengthen organizational leadership, clarify division of responsibilities, and detail implementation measures to ensure the plan’s objectives and policies are carried out. Localities are encouraged to leverage their own advantages and innovate expansion and improvement measures tailored to local conditions.
- Central government departments: Relevant State Council departments and units must coordinate, strengthen guidance, and detail specific support measures to form a policy synergy. The National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission are tasked with overall coordination, tracking progress, and summarizing and promoting typical experiences. Major matters must be reported to the Party Central Committee and the State Council in a timely manner.
Implications for Foreign Founders
While the source text does not specify direct market-opening measures or foreign investment provisions, the plan’s emphasis on expanding and improving rehabilitation and nursing services may create a more structured policy environment for healthcare service providers. Foreign founders with businesses in healthcare, elderly care, or rehabilitation technologies should monitor how local governments implement the plan, as provincial authorities are encouraged to innovate and adapt measures to local conditions.
Companies operating in China should also note the plan’s focus on primary-level facilities and the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, which may influence service standards and partnership opportunities. The plan’s implementation will be coordinated by the National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission, with progress tracked and typical experiences promoted.
Foreign founders are advised to stay informed about local implementation details and any supporting policies that may emerge, as these could affect licensing, service delivery, and collaboration with local healthcare providers. The State Council’s reply does not introduce new foreign investment rules but underscores the government’s priority on strengthening rehabilitation and nursing infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Policy approval: The State Council has approved the plan in principle and requires its thorough implementation.
- Focus areas: Expansion, quality improvement, balance, and continuity of medical rehabilitation and nursing services, with priority on grassroots facilities.
- Local flexibility: Provinces are encouraged to innovate and adapt measures to their own advantages.
- Coordination: The National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission will oversee implementation and track progress.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Call to action: Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.