WHO chief shares Chinese dream

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan shared her Chinese dream at the final media briefing of her official visit to China on Wednesday.

"When I retire from my job and come back to live in China, I'd like to be able to have a well-trained, respected and properly paid family doctor to take care of my health," Chan said when praising China's investment in training general practitioners.

During her visit to China, Chan met Premier Li Keqiang, health and family planning chief Li Bin and other senior officials and experts.

At the press conference, Chan spotlighted the importance of a strong primary health care system to China, with its ageing population and rapidly escalating burden of "lifestyle" diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Without action and commitment, the burden of these disease may cancel out economic achievements.

Chan also commended China's "remarkable progress" in health reform saying that more than 95 percent of China's vast population is now covered by health insurance, and people are using health services more than ever before.

She noted China's "large and sustained" investment in health reform: from 2001 to 2011, the government share of health expenditure doubled.

If China continues this commitment to health reform, it can offer the world great inspiration and evidence of success, Chan said.