Premier Li Keqiang urged efforts be made to remove institutional barriers to the health service industry at the State Council executive meeting held on Aug 30.

According to the Premier, related departments should work out solid measures to break limitations and speed up development of health services.

As an important part of supply-side reform, the health service industry is a strategic sector that concerns benefits to the general public, Premier Li added.

“China has huge market potential for health services, and we should take effective measures to promote rapid and ordered growth of the industry in the face of international competition,” Premier Li said.

“I heard that the monthly salary for a maternity matron could reach at most tens of thousands of yuan in Beijing, which proves the high demand for this job,” the Premier said, adding that the administrative reform and development of the health service industry is to satisfy people’s diverse needs.

In 2016, health expenses in China totaled 4.63 trillion yuan, accounting for 6.2 percent of the country’s GDP, a number still much lower than that of developed countries.

Premier Li urged the National Development and Reform Commission to introduce cross-department and full-process approval procedures for the establishment of private healthcare and elderly care institutions, and asked related departments to conduct inclusive, prudent and effective supervision over new-type health service institutions and cross-sector services.

Related policies should be in place as soon as possible to promote the healthy development of this industry, he said.