At the time of the 40th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration, the World Health Organization member states signed the Declaration of Astana. From Health For All to Universal Health Coverage, primary health care is consistantly identified as the key to achieving human health, and preventive services are critical and central component of primary health care. China has provided valuable experience for primary health care to countries around the world. However, with significant socioeconomic changes and rapid population aging, the contexts of primary health care and prevention services in China has undergone tremendous changes. Chronic diseases have become major burden of disease. System development and institution building, health service delivery system development, and the entire society of the country with large population are encountering new and serious challenges. On the basis of reviewing the development of preventive medical services in China for 40 years, Authors analyzes strengths and weaknesses of preventive services in China and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities in the coming decades, from perspective of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies, and proposes suggestions for future development.

Over the last decade there has been significant focus on reforming the primary health care system in China to imbed a stepped care approach whereby patients can be treated in the community with appropriate referral to services to match their medical needs. China’s health policies now strongly promote the implementation of this approach particularly in response to the increasing burden of chronic disease and population ageing. Affordable and accessible primary health care services are critical to promote healthy ageing and the health of the Chinese community more broadly. This presentation will discuss the implications of recent aged care and health policy reforms in China and their potential impact on the health of older people. The presentation draws on analysis of key policy documents and interviews with informants including government officials, health professionals and older consumers and data from a major chronic illness management trial implemented in Beijing.