Child artists paint green trees by hand in a community in Urumqi, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 12, 2025. Photo: VCG

The Panzhihua authorities in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province have recently issued specific rules on subsidies for assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the city, offering a one-time subsidy of 5,000 yuan ($695.75) to eligible pregnant women, according to the Panzhihua Daily on Monday.

The implementation rules aim to further improve the city’s birth support policy system, reduce the financial burden on individuals undergoing ART, and promote the development of a family-friendly city. These rules took effect on July 25, 2025, and will remain valid for five years, according to a notice posted on the official website of the Panzhihua city government recently.

According to the rules, pregnant women in Panzhihua who conceive through ART, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF) and give birth in accordance with local policies are eligible for the subsidy, provided they meet several conditions. The pregnant women have participated in social insurance within Panzhihua, and the ART procedure must be conducted at a medical institution authorized by national health authorities. Additionally, the embryo transfer must occur on or after June 1, 2025, and the newborn must be registered in Panzhihua, according to the rules.

The detailed rules reflect the local government’s efforts to improve the birth support policy system, Jiang Quanbao, an expert in population studies and a professor at the School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

To build a comprehensive birth support system, it is essential to implement coordinated measures across multiple areas. For instance, economic support should be provided through initiatives such as tax reductions, and the inclusion of ART services in health insurance, thereby alleviating the financial burden on families, Jiang said. 

Meanwhile, time-related support is also crucial as extending maternity leave for women, granting paternity leave for men, and promoting parental leave would allow parents sufficient time to accompany their children as they grow, Jiang said.

China launched a nationwide childcare subsidy program in 2025 as part of broader efforts to support families and encourage childbirth. The program offers families 3,600 yuan per year for each child under the age of three, according to Chinese authorities.

The People’s Government of Beijing Municipality introduced 15 measures on July 31 to enhance the fertility support policy system. Among these, certain labor pain relief and ART services will be included in medical insurance coverage.

Global Times