📰 *China Orders Hospitals to Offer Epidurals as Birth Rate Crisis Deepens* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDbHKp3GJOtlMM4PA39 https://wa.me/263718497005?text=advert China has introduced a policy requiring all tertiary hospitals to provide epidural anaesthesia during childbirth by 2025, with secondary hospitals following by 2027. The National Health Commission (NHC) says the move aims to improve maternal healthcare and create a "friendly childbearing environment" amid the country's rapidly declining birth rates. Epidural anaesthesia is a pain relief method in which a local anaesthetic is injected into the lower spine, blocking pain signals while allowing the mother to remain awake and alert during labour. The World Health Organisation endorses its use for maternal comfort and safety in childbirth. China recorded its third consecutive year of population decline in 2024, triggering concerns over economic stability and future labour shortages. Experts warn that unless bold incentives are introduced, the country could face severe long-term consequences for its workforce and healthcare system. Currently, only 30% of pregnant women in China receive epidural anaesthesia during childbirth, compared to over 70% in developed nations. In France, 82% of expectant mothers opt for epidurals, while in the United States and Canada, the rate stands at more than 67%. The World Health Organisation recommends epidurals as a safe and effective pain management solution. In an effort to boost childbirth rates, several Chinese provinces have begun covering epidural costs under medical insurance plans, aiming to reduce financial burdens for expectant mothers. However, economic instability, high childcare costs, and job insecurity remain significant obstacles discouraging young couples from starting families. In Sichuan province, health authorities recently proposed extending marriage leave to 25 days and maternity leave to 150 days as part of broader efforts to create a fertility-friendly society. -Reuters