Chinese lawmakers announced plans to eliminate the One Child Policy last year, replacing it with new regulations, which allow all couples in China to have two children.
Now the impact of the new policy, which took effect this year, is already visible.
Yang Xin is expecting her second child in the southern city of Shenzhen. She says the number of expectant mothers has increased sharply from a year ago, and she has to make appointments for medical checks three to four months in advance.
"The hospital has been crowded with expectant mothers every day since February. People began to queue up in early morning and I have to wait at least 30 minutes for each check. Thus I have to bring two family members along to wait in line for me, otherwise I won't finish all the necessary checks in a day."
Yang's case is rather common across China, as many hospitals are reporting a lack of beds in obstetrics while doctors have been overwhelmed by the number of patients.
Liu Lihua is the deputy head of obstetrics at the Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital.
"We have 45 beds in the fifth section of obstetrics and we added 30 extra beds today. Such situation started in April, while the peak season usually came in August or September in the past."
2016 is also the Year of the Monkey, which is among the 12 Zodiac animals of China. Liu Lihua says a traditional belief that babies born in the Year of the Monkey are opt to be smart and confident has pushed up the number of newborns.
Chinese family planning authorities estimate the two-child policy will add an estimated 3 million babies annually in the next five years, pushing the total figure each year to up to 21 million.
Those figures will have a significant on China's economy.
Calculated on a basis of an annual spending of 16,000 yuan for each newborn, a yearly increase of up to 50 billion yuan, or more than 7 billion US dollars, is expected in consumption for infants in China.
The business concerning medical care and mother and baby products will directly benefit.
Among the 28 companies listed in China which focus on baby-related business, 21 have already released their semi-annual reports for the first half of this year.
Seven of them reported an over 100 percent increase in net profit, and three companies saw a 300 percent growth in revenues.
Huang Jun is an analyst at China Merchants Securities.
"Some reports covering the first half of the year have presented better-than-expected performance thanks to the second-child policy. The year of 2016 will see an explosive growth in newborns. "
The One Child Policy was eliminated mainly to create a demographic balance giving a rapidly aging Chinese society.
Chinese researchers project more than a quarter of the Chinese population will be over the age of 65 by 2050.
雅思写作实用套句450句(二)
9个雅思写作必练的作文题目
雅思议论文写作论据:Museums and Galleries
雅思写作论据:How to Manage Stress
雅思写作:剑桥雅思六A类写作第四套分析
G类雅思小作文常用句型总结
雅思议论文写作论据:To Play, or to Compete?
中国考生的六大雅思写作问题
雅思写作实用套句450句(四)
雅思写作论点分析:个人与国家
雅思写作图表作文笔记整理
雅思写作常考的10类话题练习
雅思写作句型练习:连接副词
三个月内拿下雅思写作6分的备考方法
40个雅思写作常用插入语整理
雅思流程图范文及深度点评:巧克力的制作
雅思写作语法讲解:表语从句
雅思小作文常用的词汇和表达
雅思议论文写作论据:Rubbish Problem
雅思写作:英语写作必备词汇-11
雅思写作思路指导:体育比赛的成功靠什么
雅思写作易错词:Such as、for example
雅思写作范文:科技扩大贫富差距
雅思写作论据:To Play, or to Compete?
雅思写作10项自检原则成就好作文
雅思写作语法讲解:同位语从句
雅思写作随想:雅思作文的思想
雅思写作:英汉表达的十大区别(上)
雅思写作句型练习:S+LV+N(上)
雅思写作的4个语言考察点
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |