In a bid to support childbirth and improve maternal care, China has announced that all major hospitals must offer epidural anesthesia for labor by the end of this year. The new policy aims to create a more supportive environment for women giving birth.
According to the National Health Commission (NHC), all tertiary-level hospitals—those with more than 500 beds—must provide epidural services by the end of 2025. Secondary-level hospitals with over 100 beds are required to follow by 2027.
This nationwide initiative comes as China struggles with a declining birth rate. The country’s population shrank for a third straight year in 2024, and experts warn the decline could continue for years.
Currently, only about 30% of women in China use epidurals during childbirth. In comparison, over 70% of women in many developed countries opt for this pain relief method, according to state-run China Daily.
The World Health Organization supports the use of epidurals for healthy women who want pain relief during labor. In France, around 82% of pregnant women choose epidurals. In the United States and Canada, more than two-thirds of women use them.
The NHC said the policy would “raise the comfort and safety of childbirth services” and “foster a more positive environment for having children.”
This move is part of a broader effort to make childbirth more appealing amid falling marriage rates and rising divorce rates, as seen in other recent demographic data.
