(ECNS) -- Beijing plans to add 1,000 hospital beds to help in childbirth as newborns are expected to exceed a record 3300,000 this year following the end of China's decades-long one-child policy.
The city's Health and Family Planning Commission has also urged public hospitals to transform special wards into ordinary facilities to hold more beds, promising to offer a government subsidy.
Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital has already started increasing its number of beds.
To prepare for the baby boom, the city plans to add 800 more birth attendants through payment to social services.
The commission and other government departments drew up the policy to meet increasing needs after pregnant women in Beijing found it difficult to get appointments for childbirth registration and treatment as well as book beds at major hospitals.
It vowed to ensure every pregnant woman is registered and has access to childbirth services. Streamlined channels will also be available for high-risk pregnant women, but the public is also urged to be rational in planning for more children.
Beijing currently has 4,907 maternity beds. Additional beds are estimated to help deliver 60,000 newborns.
Geng Yutian, deputy director of the commission, said the number of newly registered pregnant women increased from 30,000 last December to 36,000 in March.
Beijing will enhance incentives for people now working in delivery positions. It will also offer favorable household registration policies for those intending to work in this sector across Beijing during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).
