Premarital check-ups remain low

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning has stated that only 21,195 Beijingers have undertaken a free premarital health check-up, accounting for 7.2 percent of married couples, reported the Beijing Daily.

Beijing implemented the voluntary premarital medical check-up in 2004 but since then the number of people attending such check-ups remains low.

In 2013, the government provided the free premarital check-up services worthy of 480 yuan ($78) for couples, hoping to draw more people to participate. The premarital medical check-up also added HIV tests, with four people having been tested positive for the disease.

According to the Beijing Health Bureau, 87 percent of couples think there is no need to have the premarital medical check-up.