China mandates nationwide epidural access in hospitals to promote childbirth comfort and boost fertility.Nurses care for newborn babies at a Xiangyang hospital in China, highlighting maternal care efforts. (Photo by Gong Bo/VCG via Getty Images)
(EPICSTORIAN) — In a sweeping national health directive, China will require all hospitals to offer epidurals to expectant mothers by the end of 2025, part of a broader push to reverse the country’s ongoing demographic decline.
The National Health Commission (NHC) announced that tertiary hospitals—those with over 500 beds—must be fully equipped to provide childbirth pain relief services, specifically epidural anesthesia, by year-end.
The policy also extends to secondary hospitals—those with more than 100 beds—which must comply by 2027. This structured rollout forms a key part of China’s aim to establish a “fertility-friendly society,” as described by NHC officials last week.
Epidural Availability Reform to Support Fertility-Friendly Society
Pain Relief Measures Part of China’s Demographic Recovery Strategy
Currently, only about 30% of Chinese women receive epidurals during childbirth, a stark contrast to over 70% in developed countries such as France, the U.S., and Canada.
The new requirement to offer epidurals across medical institutions is seen as both a medical advancement and a social incentive aimed at easing anxieties around labor pain, which remains a concern for many women considering motherhood.
The World Health Organization has endorsed epidural anesthesia as a safe and recommended method for childbirth pain relief, especially for healthy women who request it.
Financial Support Grows for Epidural Use Nationwide
Beyond service availability, authorities in several provinces are extending financial support. More regional governments are now incorporating epidural-related childbirth costs into medical insurance coverage, reducing the economic burden on families.
These reforms are part of an effort to offer epidurals widely and affordably, promoting both accessibility and maternal comfort.
Declining Marriages and Births Prompt Policy Reversal
China’s population has declined for three consecutive years, with 2024 marking another sharp drop.
Policymakers are now combining healthcare expansion with social reforms, including proposed extensions of marriage and maternity leaves—up to 25 days and 150 days respectively in provinces like Sichuan.
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Amid reports that new marriage rates are at record lows, while divorce rates rise, the government’s new policy aligns with broader efforts to restore confidence in family planning and childbirth experiences.
Offering Epidurals Becomes Standard Nationwide Policy
The NHC emphasized that implementing epidural availability reform will not only improve physical comfort but also help foster a better emotional environment for childbirth.
Officials believe this shift will “enhance people’s sense of happiness” and security in the nation’s maternal healthcare system.
