BEIJING — China officially inaugurated the National Health Commission, as part of a massive institutional reshuffle. on March 27.

Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-premier of the State Council, attended the inauguration ceremony.

While addressing a symposium held March 27, Sun called on health institutions to strengthen the work to offer “comprehensive, lifecycle health services to the Chinese people.”

“The establishment of the commission reflects a change of concept of the country’s health-related work,” said Sun, noting that the commission must focus on improving the overall health conditions of the Chinese people, instead of illness treatment, through enhancing disease prevention and health education.

Sun also called for more efforts on healthy lifestyles and deepening medical and healthcare reform.