China Launches First Special Fund for Online Health Science Popularization and Healthy Culture Development

In the Internet era, online search has become the preferred method for the general public to access popular science knowledge on health. According to data from Toutiao, the readership of health and medical popular science articles reached 33.6 billion in 2018, with a daily average readership of nearly 100 million.

However, a deluge of pseudoscientific health and medical claims permeates every corner of the internet. It is imperative that we act without delay to cultivate a modern culture of health, enhance the health literacy of the entire population, and vigorously promote “Internet + Precision Health Science Communication.”

To this end,On March 18, 2019, the China Health Promotion Foundation and Youlai Doctor jointly initiated the establishment of China’s first “Special Fund for Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development,” and concurrently held the inauguration ceremony of the Management Committee of the Special Fund for Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development under the China Health Promotion Foundation, along with its first working meeting.

First Working Meeting of the Management Committee for the Special Fund on Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development, China Health Promotion Foundation

As the initiating organization of the Special Fund for Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development, Youlai Doctor will adhere to the leadership of the China Health Promotion Foundation, strictly comply with the Foundation’s Articles of Association as well as the purposes and administrative measures of the special fund, strive to build the fund effectively, encourage participation from all sectors of society in this endeavor that benefits both the nation and its people, jointly promote “Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development,” and make positive contributions to advancing the cause of national health.

Since its inception, Youlai Doctor has consistently upheld its corporate mission of “preventing disease and reducing illness incidence among the general population.” The company has remained dedicated to “Internet + Precision Health Science Popularization Education,” leveraging technologies such as the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence to empower authoritative medical experts. This approach aims to make health science communication more precise, engaging, and easily disseminated, thereby fostering a deep-rooted culture of health awareness.Ruan Shengtie, Chairman of Youlai Doctor, stated that the company has consistently prioritized social value and actively engaged in public welfare initiatives.

Furthermore, Mr. Bai Shuzhong, Lifetime Honorary Chairman of the China Health Promotion Foundation, serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Special Fund Management Committee. Mr. Xu Xiegu, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Health Promotion Foundation, was elected as the Chairman of the First Session of the Special Fund Management Committee. Mr. Ruan Shengtie, Chairman of Youlai Doctor, was elected as Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General. Mr. Yang Jianjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Health Promotion Foundation, and Mr. Ling Weiming, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, were elected as Vice Chairmen.

The establishment of the Special Fund for Online Health Science Popularization and Health Culture Development will promote and support relevant personnel in carrying out internet-based health science popularization efforts, facilitate the formation of a health-oriented culture across society, support research projects on the application of health science popularization in “Internet Plus,” big data, and artificial intelligence, reward entities, groups, and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to online health science popularization and health culture initiatives, support talent development, academic exchanges, and collaboration in the fields of internet-based health science popularization and health culture, carry out research, application, and promotion of technologies for online health science popularization, and foster innovative development in the cause of online health science popularization and health culture.

Chairman Xu Xiegu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Youlai Doctor for providing the initial funding for the special fund and outlined specific plans for the next steps in his address:

1. Leverage the Platform's Role, make good use of special funds and raise capital through multiple channels to help licensed physicians serve as the “regular force” in health science popularization; incentivize medical and health professionals to translate their expertise into health knowledge needed by the public via the Internet; resolutely combat pseudoscience and fake health information; and ensure that authoritative health science communication takes more diverse forms, reaches wider audiences, and carries greater influence.

Second, play a guiding role, attract and integrate social resources from all sectors to invest in the research and creation of online health science popularization and health culture, while guiding medical personnel and practitioners in related industries to pay attention to national strategies and regional industrial development needs, so that authoritative health science popularization will involve a larger workforce, achieve broader coverage, and generate greater impact;

3. Exercise the supervisory role, serve as gatekeepers for health science popularization, actively support the regulation of health science communication, leverage special funds to ensure scientific rigor in educational content, enhance professional health standards, drive out low-quality information with high-quality alternatives, and strengthen the reach, professionalism, and credibility of authoritative health science dissemination, striving to establish the special fund as a well-known domestic brand within five years.