The Chair of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, SONG Yan, Invited to Discuss Modern Chinese Healthcare Philanthropy

The Chair of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, SONG Yan, Invited to Discuss Modern Chinese Healthcare Philanthropy

On March 12th, a forum was hosted with representatives from the 2024 Two Sessions on "The High-Quality Development and Integration of Modern Chinese Healthcare Philanthropy" in Beijing. The Beijing Jingyan Foundation participated as a co-organizer.

The forum aimed to focus on the new stage of development for healthcare philanthropy, delving into the close connection between medical aid and philanthropic efforts. Ms. SONG Yan, Chair of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, was invited to attend and engaged with key representatives from public policy, business, and other sectors to discuss "How to Elevate Healthcare Philanthropy in China to New Heights."

Empowering Grassroots Healthcare Institutions: Jingyan's Ongoing Efforts

In this year’s government work report delivered at the Two Sessions, one of the key priorities for 2023 was to expand and redistribute high-quality medical resources to ensure balanced regional coverage. The discussion on improving the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of grassroots medical institutions emerged as a key topic of interest among representatives and committee members.

Since its founding, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation has focused on the health and well-being of children in need. One of the Foundation's core concerns has been improving the diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses in underdeveloped areas. To address this, Jingyan Foundation has partnered with multiple hospitals to continuously offer training and development programs for grassroots medical staff, providing tailored support to medical institutions at all levels, strengthening the grassroots healthcare system, and promoting early diagnosis and treatment of major pediatric diseases.

In 2023, the Foundation launched the Healthy China Tour hosting nearly 10 events across regions such as Yunnan and Guizhou. During these events, teams of experts conducted free medical consultations and organized thalassemia diagnosis and treatment training for local doctors. These efforts have been instrumental in supporting local governments in implementing effective thalassemia prevention and control measures.

To help local governments overcome challenges such as limited resources, funding, and technical expertise in thalassemia prevention, we have collaborated with local health departments and well-known hospitals. More than 1,200 grassroots healthcare professionals were trained, enhancing their service capacity and preventive care skills. This initiative provided the human resources and technical support necessary for large-scale interventions, contributing to the government’s ongoing efforts to combat and prevent thalassemia.

Jingyan Calls for Collective Efforts to Achieve "Zero Thalassemia" as Soon as Possible

Ms. SONG Yan, Chair of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, was a guest at the roundtable, where she discussed the establishment and improvement of a "socialized healthcare philanthropy system with Chinese characteristics."

During the discussion on the new "full life cycle" assistance model, Ms. SONG highlighted the uneven progress in thalassemia prevention and treatment across regions, noting the significant differences in the implementation of the national three-tier thalassemia prevention and control system. The Jingyan Foundation is committed to exploring effective strategies for establishing a sustainable, community-based thalassemia prevention and control mechanism. Additionally, the Foundation plans to collaborate with local governments to leverage big data and other technologies to enhance preventive capabilities.

The promotion of thalassemia prevention and eventual elimination has always been the long-term goal of the Jingyan Foundation's Building Love for Thalassemia Action project. In 2022, the Foundation launched the Zero Thalassemia Plan, which focuses on intensifying efforts to treat children with severe thalassemia and reduce the existing patient base. At the same time, the Foundation works with governments, hospitals, and enterprises to build and refine a long-term prevention and control system, ensuring that the national three-tier prevention and control policy is effectively implemented in regions with high thalassemia rates, preventing the birth of severely affected children.

At the forum, Ms. SONG emphasized the Jingyan Foundation's potential to catalyze increased attention, policy support, and public awareness for thalassemia. She expressed her hope that more departments, institutions, and enterprises would collaborate with Jingyan to enhance thalassemia screening, genetic diagnostics, prenatal testing, and medical interventions. She also advocated for better management of high-risk populations and stronger policy support for thalassemia patients. Furthermore, Ms. Song called for efforts to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment and to move China closer to achieving the goal of Zero Thalassemia.