health

In China, a New Paid Period Leave Policy Revives an Old Debate

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

A new initiative in Yunnan province, allowing women to take up to two days off with a doctor’s note, has reignited discussions about a decades-old policy few have even heard of.

Li Xin

Li Miaoran

How Do Chinese Spend Their Time?

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

The National Time-Use Survey is perhaps the best window into how 1.4 billion Chinese split their days between work, play, and sleep. Here are some of this year’s answers.

Luo Yahan

Young Lives, Heavy Dust: Battling Pneumoconiosis

The Paper

Lü Xiao

Heat Wave-Related Deaths Soared in China in 2023, Report Finds

Fatalities caused by heat waves were over 300% higher than the historical average in China last year, according to a major new Lancet study.

Ding Rui

Talk in Your Sleep? You Could Be at Risk of a Stroke

Sleep talking, once considered harmless, is actually a strong predictor of severe health problems including strokes, researchers at China’s Fudan University have found.

Life on Call: Why Chinese Anesthesiologists Are Burning Out

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Chinese anesthesiologists face a triple threat of high technical demands, high risks, and high workloads while remaining undervalued in the health care system.

China Clamps Down on Fake Prescriptions After Massive Fraud Case

China will require pharmacies to process certain drug purchases through an online system, after discovering four rogue stores had forged prescriptions worth over $10 million.

He Qitong

Mind’s Eye Blind: A Shanghai Clinic Treats a Disorder None Can See

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China’s first clinic for aphantasia and spatial disorders aims to help children with these rare conditions. However, anxious parents focused on math struggles have sparked debate over the clinic’s approach.

Jiang Xinyi

Cigarette Sales Are Rising in China, Defying Global Trend

The use of “slim cigarettes” and a slowdown in official anti-tobacco efforts is concerning experts.

Lin Liuhan

China Expands Insurance Coverage for Cochlear Implants

There are over 27 million people affected by hearing loss in China, but many can’t afford surgery.

China Adds Lung Disease to National Public Health Scheme

The move will enable the country’s more than 100 million chronic pulmonary disease patients to access free annual check-ups.

Why Are Chinese Hospitals Charging Men for Gynecological Exams?

A government investigation has uncovered thousands of examples of hospitals falsifying insurance claims.

Chinese Survey Reveals Stark Divides in Elderly Labor Force 

The findings suggest that China needs to continue addressing social inequities in addition to raising the retirement age, according to the authors.

In China, A New Alzheimer’s Drug Is Met With Cautious Optimism

Lecanemab was approved for use in the country earlier this year. But getting the most out of the drug will require broader reforms.

China’s Milk Tea Industry Gets a Health Check

A new grading system currently being tested in Shanghai aims to give consumers a clearer picture of the sugary drinks’ nutritional value — or lack thereof.

Ding Xiaoyan

Obesity Damages Brain Health, Chinese Study Finds

Researchers have found that obesity can lead to a decline in brain volume equivalent to 12 years of aging.

Fan Yiying

Chinese Parents Falling Prey to Dubious Myopia ‘Miracle Cures’

With half of Chinese children now near-sighted, vendors are flooding the market with questionable eye treatments — from “AI glasses” to “miracle drugs.”

Chinese Universities Introduce Weight Loss Classes for Unfit Students

The universities are assessing students based on how much weight they can drop in a semester. The “record holder” reportedly shed 15 kilograms.

The Disabled Student Entrepreneur Swapping Toys for Tech

A student with brittle bone disease has launched a startup in eastern China to develop a smart exoskeleton that will allow him and others to walk.

In China, a ‘Good Death’ Still Means Putting the Family First

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

One professor has spent years asking Chinese people how they would like to live out their last moments, finding most emphasized the importance of their families, with little mention of personal choice and autonomy.