The coastal city of Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, is building a robust and inclusive health system that leaves no one behind, from urban neighborhoods to rural villages. The city's extensive basic public health services now safeguard the well-being of its entire population of over 10 million.

This long-term initiative offers comprehensive, end-to-end care across 12 key areas, including health records management, vaccination, and specialized support for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with chronic diseases. It focuses on strengthening health resilience through prevention and early intervention.

The system is deeply integrated into community healthcare. A prime example is the breast imaging team from the Qingdao Central Hospital of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, which recently offered free screenings in a local community, diagnosing severe cases on the spot and embodying the program's grassroots commitment.

Since the system's launch in 2009, and especially during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Qingdao has pioneered innovative models like integrated management for blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar, which have since been promoted nationwide.

The results are solid and telling: over 8 million dynamically updated electronic health records, dedicated health management for more than 1.16 million senior citizens, improving chronic disease control rates, and a resident health literacy rate of 38.46 percent. These figures collectively paint a picture of a city steadily enhancing the health and quality of life for all its residents.

Using professional ultrasound equipment, the breast imaging team from the Qingdao Central Hospital of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences provides free health screenings for residents. [Photo by Huang Fei/Guanhai News]