On optimizing the layout and construction of primary medical and health institutions, and studied the pilot work of comprehensive reform of higher education.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 17. Premier Li Qiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on January 17 to study relevant policies and measures to promote employment, listen to reports on optimizing the layout and construction of grassroots medical and health institutions, and study the pilot work of comprehensive reform of higher education.

The meeting pointed out that employment is the foundation of people’s livelihood. We must give priority to employment, strengthen policy support, empower training, and help with services, and strive to promote high-quality full employment. We must increase efforts to tap the potential and expand the capacity of employment positions, focus on key areas such as advanced manufacturing, service consumption, and people’s livelihood security, promote the implementation of job development plans, and enhance the employment driving force of economic development. We must increase employment support for key groups, increase the credit limit for special loans for stabilizing and expanding jobs, promote the government financing guarantee system to increase support for employment and entrepreneurship, and study the expansion of the scope of one-time job expansion subsidies. We must carry out large-scale vocational skills training, increase support in terms of training funding, facility construction, and corporate participation, formulate training plans by industry and field, improve the level of training and subsidy levels, and cultivate more talents needed for development.

The meeting pointed out that primary medical and health institutions are the first line of defense to protect the health of the people. It is necessary to coordinate the current and long-term, comprehensively consider factors such as urban-rural integration development, changes in population structure, and the health needs of the people, improve the construction layout according to local conditions, and provide greater convenience for the people to seek medical treatment nearby. We must focus on improving the level of basic medical services at the grassroots level, improve the setting of clinical departments and the allocation of medical equipment, expand the types of primary medicines, strengthen the training of medical personnel, and enhance the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation capabilities of chronic and common diseases. We must actively promote the construction of a tiered diagnosis and treatment system, give play to the regulatory role of medical insurance payment and prices, use information technology such as telemedicine, guide patients to first visit the grassroots, promote family doctor contract services, and provide residents with all-round and life-cycle health services.

The meeting pointed out that in building a strong country in education, higher education is the leader. It is necessary to coordinate the reform of colleges and universities in terms of education methods, scientific research paradigms, school-running models, and governance systems, unblock the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talents, and provide strong support for China’s modernization with high-quality development of higher education. It is necessary to optimize the setting of disciplines and majors as the focus of reform, give colleges and universities greater autonomy, and scientifically adjust the setting of disciplines and talent training models based on national strategies, market demand, and scientific and technological development. Improve the curriculum and teaching materials system, promote cross-disciplinary integration, and continuously improve the fit between higher education and economic and social development needs. It is necessary to give full play to the role of the baton of the reform of the education evaluation system, and create a good environment for the characteristic development of colleges and universities and teachers to concentrate on teaching and research.

The meeting also examined other matters.