A volunteer helps a patient at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Yiwu. [Photo/Jinhua Media Group]

Zhejiang province aims to achieve a high standard of public health and healthcare services by 2030 under its newly released health development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).

The plan was outlined at a provincial government news conference on Oct 22, covering disease prevention, medical services, healthcare reform, medical innovation, and workforce development.

Zhejiang has largely achieved its previous health development goals, with average life expectancy reaching 82.62 years.

Under the new plan, the province aims to raise residents' health literacy rate to 52 percent by 2030 while strengthening infectious disease surveillance and screening for chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.

Zhejiang also plans to expand primary healthcare services, including mobile clinics and family doctor services, aiming for primary healthcare facilities to account for at least 70 percent of medical visits by 2030.

The province aims to handle 93 percent of medical visits within patients' home counties and at least 97 percent within Zhejiang.

To improve treatment for serious and complex diseases, Zhejiang plans to establish 50 provincial-level major disease diagnosis and treatment centers.

The province will also expand the use of medical AI models, surgical robots, and AI-assisted diagnosis, aiming for medical AI models to be used across all medical institutions.