Hangzhou Takes Giant Leap in Childcare: 4.7 Centers Per 1,000 People Now Available for Infants and Toddlers
Hangzhou Advances in Inclusive Childcare with 4.7 Centers per 1,000 People
On September 26, the Hangzhou Municipal Government Information Office and the Hangzhou Municipal Health Bureau jointly held a press conference to promote the construction of a high-quality inclusive childcare system.
The Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission has focused on promoting central financial support for inclusive childcare services, developing demonstration projects, and establishing a convenient, safe, and scientific childcare service system.
As of September 19, 2024, there are 1,537 infant and toddler care service institutions in the city, with a total of 59,000 childcare centers, reaching 4.7 centers per 1,000 people.
Wide Coverage, Complete Cycle: Achieving “Easy Cure”
At the community level, childcare facilities will be equipped in newly built and existing residential areas. Currently, 343 rooms for newborn and child services have been designed and built, covering an area of over 70,000 square meters.
At the unit level, employers will be encouraged to establish childcare institutions, with 42 enterprises, institutions, and industrial parks already doing so. 12 medical institutions have created the “City Health System Child Care Services Alliance” to promote nearby childcare and resource sharing.
Targeting Younger Age Groups and Increasing Service Diversity
Support will be provided for childcare institutions to open infant classes and small nursery classes, with 5 special training sessions on newborn and child care conducted, training a total of 473 childcare workers.
Daycare employees will be supported in conducting “medical education follow-up” studies at contracted primary health and medical institutions, with city nurseries for children under 2 years old representing 18.97%, an increase of 11% compared to the end of the previous year.
Multilevel and Diverse: Achieving “Affordability”
Starting September 1, Hangzhou’s pilot program will issue monthly childcare vouchers of 600-1,000 yuan to registered infants and toddlers enrolled in inclusive childcare institutions in western districts and counties.
The “cost reduction and efficiency improvement” action for inclusive children’s services will be carried out, encouraging street communities and employers to free up space for hosting services and exempt operators from site rental, internal and external decoration, electricity and water consumption, disinfection and hygiene assessment, employee training, health screenings, and institutional public liability insurance.
Specialization, Digital Intelligence: Achieving “Good Cure”
A “1+1+X” guidance system will be established, integrating education and medical services. 70 “medical protection” centers and 710 growth stations for newborns and children have been built, with the action to upgrade and upgrade growth stations fully implemented.
Digital intelligence services will be promoted, with the interconnection of infant and young child health information, creating a unique digital family doctor “Hangxiaoyu”, providing personalized and interactive services, and forming a closed circuit of health management.
