China's National Health Commission Launches Pilot Program for Labor Analgesia with Nationwide Rollout Plan

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that the National Health Commission issued a document on November 20, proposing to launch pilot programs for labor pain management across China from 2018 to 2020, and to gradually promote the clinical practice of labor analgesia nationwide.

In the "Notice on Launching Pilot Programs for Labor Analgesia," the National Health Commission proposed selecting a certain number of hospitals nationwide to conduct pilot programs for labor analgesia diagnosis and treatment. By leveraging the leading and demonstrative roles of these pilot hospitals, the initiative aims to promote labor analgesia services across China gradually. Furthermore, it seeks to standardize operational techniques for labor analgesia, expand its coverage, popularize natural childbirth under analgesia, reduce cesarean section rates, enhance the comfort level of medical services, and improve patient satisfaction among pregnant and postpartum women.

Furthermore, by strengthening the emergency response capabilities of the obstetrician team in delivery rooms, we can further ensure the safety of pregnant and postpartum women, reduce maternal mortality, and enhance the public’s sense of gain and well-being in accessing medical care.

The National Health Commission will select a certain number of hospitals to conduct pilot programs for labor analgesia diagnosis and treatment. The scope of the pilot includes secondary and above general hospitals, maternal and child health care hospitals, or specialized obstetrics and gynecology hospitals that have obstetrics and anesthesiology as their diagnostic and treatment specialties.

The “Notice” requires that pilot hospitals further standardize the technical procedures for labor analgesia, continuously improve and optimize management and service workflows for labor analgesia, enhance awareness of labor analgesia among healthcare professionals and the general public, and promote the widespread adoption of labor analgesia techniques while ensuring the safety of both mother and infant.

Key priorities include enhancing the technical proficiency of labor analgesia and promoting scientifically informed decision-making regarding modes of delivery. By implementing labor analgesia, the proportion of cesarean sections performed due to intolerance of labor pain can be reduced, thereby contributing to a gradual decline in the overall cesarean section rate, increasing the rate of vaginal deliveries, and further improving health outcomes for both mothers and newborns.

The “Notice” proposes that hospitals should establish a labor analgesia management service team and strengthen the training, clinical drills, and assessment of relevant medical personnel. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to the monitoring of complications and the development of prevention and treatment capabilities; targeted efforts should be made to establish and improve the quality control system for labor analgesia, thereby enhancing its safety.

Furthermore, the "Notice" requires hospitals to establish a regular health education system for pregnant women and their families, so as to enhance their awareness of the risks associated with labor pain and improve their understanding of labor analgesia.

Reference: "Notice on Launching the Pilot Program for Labor Analgesia"

http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xxgk/pages/viewdocument.jsp?manuscriptId=e3d00e4a41f445fe89d100e6ee67c0a8&index=1542781646499