Report on Health Management Awareness Among Chinese SME Entrepreneurs Launched with Ping An Health's Support

On April 20, the 2023 Health Management Development Forum was successfully held in Shanghai. The forum was organized by Ba Dian Jian Wen (Health News), with academic support from the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University, and joint support from Ping An Health Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (stock abbreviation: Ping An Good Doctor, 01833.HK; hereinafter referred to as “Ping An Health”) and Ping An Bank Private Banking. At the event, the Research Report on Health Management Awareness among Chinese Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Entrepreneurs was prominently released. The report focuses on the physical and mental health status and lifestyle patterns of SME entrepreneurs, exploring their awareness, cognition, and related needs regarding proactive health management. In-depth discussions were conducted on topics such as SME entrepreneurs’ levels of health literacy, health management awareness, and practices.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) serve as vital vehicles for socioeconomic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, playing a pivotal role in society. Data up to 2017 indicate that SMEs registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce accounted for 99% of all registered enterprises in China; their total industrial output value represented 60% of the national total, and they provided approximately 75% of urban employment opportunities. However, SME owners, as the “helmsmen” of their enterprises, face substantial pressures while creating broad value. Due to factors such as high work-related stress and tight schedules, they encounter significant challenges in managing their health. Currently, there is a lack of corresponding research and surveys on the health status, health management awareness, and health service needs of this specific population.

SME entrepreneurs’ awareness and attitudes toward health management influence the provision of employee health management services within their enterprises, thereby indirectly affecting employees’ health outcomes. Therefore, focusing on the issue of “Health Management among Chinese SME Entrepreneurs” can not only improve this group’s own health status and health literacy, but also enhance corporate health management practices, further boosting the health levels of SME employees and contributing to the advancement of national public health initiatives. In response to this current landscape and its pain points, Badian Jianwen, in collaboration with Fudan University’s Institute of Health Communication, Ping An Health, and Ping An Bank Private Banking, jointly initiated a research project. Through in-depth insights and professional analysis, they have released the “Research Report on Chinese SME Entrepreneurs’ Awareness of Health Management.”

At the event, Zhang Xiang, Founder of Ba Dian Jian Wen; Fu Hua, Director of the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University; and Wu Jun, President of Ping An Health, shared their respective perspectives.

“This survey has made us realize that, even among small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs, there is a significant gap between ideals and reality when it comes to health management. SME entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy; as founders or senior executives of their companies, they bear substantial social responsibility, possess strong leadership skills and high levels of cognitive awareness, and exert considerable influence on those around them. Moreover, they and their families have relatively high disposable income. Starting with this group can indeed influence a large number of working professionals, helping them enhance their health awareness, set personal health goals, plan their health-related behaviors, and select high-quality health management services,” said Zhang Xiang, founder of Badian Jianwen.

△ Zhang Xiang, Founder of Health News at Eight

“Health is the foundation for every individual to realize their life value, as well as a prerequisite for the sustained and stable development of society. We hope that the release of the Research Report on Health Management Awareness among Chinese SME Owners will provide a scientific basis for exploring ways to improve health management practices among entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote further development of relevant health products, expand scientifically proven and effective service offerings while meeting the health service needs of this entrepreneurial group, and thereby extend health management and services to cover employees managed by these entrepreneurs, thus vigorously advancing the development of health management for SMEs in China,” said Fu Hua, Director of the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University.

△ Fu Hua, Director of the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University

“By gaining deep insights into the corporate health management market, we have found that health issues among enterprise managers and employees are becoming increasingly prominent, both physically and psychologically. Psychological problems such as low mood and depression are on the rise year by year. As the flagship of Ping An Group’s healthcare ecosystem, Ping An Health has been deepening its synergy and integration with the Group, striving to build professional, comprehensive, high-quality, one-stop corporate health management services in its efforts to expand in the corporate health management market,” said Wu Jun, President of Ping An Health.

△ Wu Jun, President of Ping An Health

Jia Yingnan, Assistant Director and Secretary-General of the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University, provided a comprehensive and in-depth interpretation of the "Research Report on Health Management Awareness among Chinese SME Entrepreneurs." The report highlights prominent physical and mental health issues among small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs, with unhealthy lifestyles being particularly evident. Nearly 40% of entrepreneurs rated their own health as poor. Cervical spondylosis, digestive diseases, and lumbar disc herniation were the top three most prevalent conditions among this group. Approximately 30% of entrepreneurs experienced varying degrees of mental health issues, and nearly 80% perceived their occupational stress as severe. Meanwhile, there is a significant demand for health management among SME entrepreneurs, with 95% expressing a strong need for such services and holding positive attitudes toward them. Regarding the provision of personalized health services for this demographic, the report emphasizes the need to enhance the convenience and accessibility of health service products. While improving the quality and environment of medical and health services, the coverage of these services should be substantially expanded to meet the diverse health needs of entrepreneurs. In terms of corporate health, it is recommended to reduce the costs of enterprise health management services, potentially through the centralized procurement of professional health management services from third-party institutions.

 △ Jia Yingnan, Assistant to the Director and Secretary-General of the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University

During the subsequent keynote session, three distinguished guests delivered compelling presentations. Wang Guowei, former Vice President of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University and Deputy Chairman of the “Sub-health” Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, shared insights on the critical topic of “TCM Health Preservation and Health Management” with the audience. “Rome was not built in a day,” he remarked. “To prevent or delay the onset of disease, prevention must be prioritized.” He further emphasized the importance of implementing whole-lifecycle health management, which involves regular assessment, analysis, and management of an individual’s health from birth to death.

△ Wang Guowei, Former Vice President of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and Vice Chairman of the "Sub-health" Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine

How Do Medical Professionals View Entrepreneurs’ Awareness of Health Management? Professor Duan Tao, affiliated with Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital of Tongji University and founder of Chuntian Medical Management, shared his firsthand experience. He stated that maintaining good health is not an unrealistic aspiration. As long as an individual does the following three things within a year: “First, attend a wedding to experience the beauty of life; second, attend a funeral, where witnessing the passing of those around you serves as a powerful reminder that everyone faces mortality, leaving a profound impact; and third, visit at least once a year in the hospital a close friend or relative suffering from a serious illness. By simply doing these three things, one’s health awareness can be significantly enhanced, yielding more immediate results than general health education.”

△ Professor Duan Tao, affiliated with Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University; Founder of Chuntian Medical Management

What services are currently available for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs? Chen Lin, Senior Vice President of Ping An Health, introduced the company’s innovative explorations and practices in medical and health management tailored to this demographic. “The health needs of SME entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly diversified, with a growing emphasis on service experience. To address their demand for personalized and differentiated services, we continuously refine our products and offerings to better meet their needs. For instance, through our five flagship services—premium health check-ups, chief-physician-level family doctors, outpatient benefits, medical consultation assistance, and access to renowned specialists—we provide comprehensive health protection for SME entrepreneurs and their families.” Furthermore, he highlighted Ping An Health’s premium product line, the Black Gold Series, which offers exclusive health management services for entrepreneurs. This series delivers healthcare experiences that are “available at the thought of them,” including high-end health screenings, one-on-one customized services, and dedicated personal assistants for end-to-end communication.

 △ Chen Lin, Senior Vice President of Ping An Health

At the roundtable forum, Ji Minhua, co-founder of Ba Dian Jian Wen (Health News at 8), moderated a discussion on the topic “A Strategic Move to Enhance Population Health: Starting with the Health Awareness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Entrepreneurs.” Zheng Pinpin, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education at the School of Public Health, Fudan University, pointed out that disease management requires shifting the focus upstream, making early adjustments to lifestyle, and starting with disease prevention. Feng Fei, Chairman of Shanghai Jinta Group, shared his personal journey, describing the evolution of his health management philosophy and his needs regarding health services. Professor Duan Tao, founder of Chuntian Medical Management and affiliated with the First Maternity and Infant Hospital of Tongji University, re-emphasized the importance of “awareness,” noting that strong awareness is necessary to translate into behavior, which in turn leads to results. Wang Guowei, former Vice President of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University and Deputy Chairman of the “Sub-health” Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, along with Chen Lin, Senior Vice President of Ping An Good Doctor, shared insights from different perspectives on the current state of health management awareness and practices among domestic enterprises and entrepreneurs for themselves and their employees.

 △ Roundtable Discussion: A Strategic Move to Enhance Public Health—Starting with the Health Awareness of SME Entrepreneurs