With the two-child policy now officially in place, Chinese officials are adopting measures to improve maternal and child healthcare to deal with an anticipated surge in pregnancy rates, especially later-age pregnancies.  

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The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) estimates that 90 million Chinese women can now have second child. A majority of these women are expected to be aged between 35 to 40 years or above. This means the country is likely to see a rise in later-age pregnancies and health risks associated with that.

"The new policy has increased the likelihood of later-age pregnancies, which are associated with risks including genetic abnormalities and labor problems," Wang Peian, deputy head of NHFPC, was quoted saying by Xinhua.

In addition to training more doctors, the country is also adopting measures to "better allocate maternal and child health resources and train more doctors," he said.

The Chinese government is also encouraging universities and medical schools to train more midwives and pediatricians, Yang Wenzhuang, head of the Department of Community Family Planning at NHFPC, said. Moreover, to make the profession of midwives and pediatricians more appealing, authorities are mulling a proposal to increase their salary package.  

China's 13th Five Year Development Plan (2016-2020) will see more hospitals being built in western China, which is considered to be a relatively impoverised region.

China adopted the one-child policy in late 1970s to curb its rapid population growth rate. On Dec. 27, 2015, the standing committee of the National People's Congress abolished the one-child policy, allowing Chinese couples to have two children from January 2016. 

TagsChina One Child Policy, later-age pregnancies, China maternal and child health, chinese couples