Qian Xinzhong (Chinese: 钱信忠; 1911 – December 31, 2009)[1] was the Minister of Health[2] (1965–1973, 1979–1982) and chairman of the National Family Planning Commission (NFPC, May 1982 - December 1983) of the People's Republic of China. As chairman of the NFPC, he made and enforced the policy of "IUD after first birth, sterilization after second birth". According to official statistics, a record number of birth control surgeries were performed in China in 1983, including 17.8 million IUD placements, 16.4 million tubal ligations, 4.3 million vasectomies, and 14.4 million induced abortions.[3]

Qian Xinzhong
钱信忠
Chairman of the National Family Planning Commission
In office
May 1982 – December 1983
Preceded byChen Muhua
Succeeded byWang Wei
Minister of Health of the People's Republic of China
In office
January 1965 – July 1973
Preceded byLi Dequan
Succeeded byLiu Xiangping
In office
April 1979 – May 1982
Preceded byJiang Yizhen
Succeeded byCui Yueli
Personal details
Born(1911-12-30)December 30, 1911
Baoshan County, Jiangxi, Qing China
(present-day Baoshan District, Shanghai, China)
Died31 December 2009(2009-12-31) (aged 98)
Beijing, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party

Biography

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Born in Baoshan, Jiangsu Province (now in Shanghai), Qian entered Tongji University in 1926 to study German language and art. From 1928, he studied medicine in Baolong Hospital of Tongji University (Tongji Medical College affiliated in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, current). In December 1940, the health department of 129th army division and the field army health department of Eighth Route Army headquarters merged, and Qian became the head of new health department. In 1945, he was appointed as head of health department of Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan military region.

After formation of PR China, Qian was sent to Soviet Union in 1951 and studied at USSR First Medical College. In 1955, he attained the rank of major general of the People's Liberation Army of China. After returning to China in 1956, he was appointed as vice director of health department of PLA General Logistics Department, and the president of PLA Academy of Military Medical Sciences. In 1957, he became the deputy Minister of Health.

Before the Cultural Revolution, the Ministry of Health focused on the delivery of health care in urban hospitals, a model which Qian promoted.[4]: 304  Mao Zedong criticized Qian for this, arguing that an urban hospital-focused health care model failed to treat peasants and focused on cure rather than preventative medicine.[4]: 304  During the Cultural Revolution, Qian was purged and tortured.[4]: 304 

He re-emerged in 1973, and directed malaria prevention campaign in five provinces of China. He was re-appointed as Minister of Health in 1979.

He was given the United Nations Population Award in 1983, along with Indira Gandhi.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Death Notice of Qian Xinzhong
  2. ^ "Chairman Jo's Triumphant Visit to China". Toledo Blade. 1979-07-10. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  3. ^ National Health and Family Planning Commission, ed. (2013-11-01). 中国卫生和计划生育统计年鉴 [China Health and Family Planning Statistics Yearbook] (in Chinese). Beijing: Peking Union Medical College Press. Table 8-8-1. ISBN 9787811369601. Archived from the original on 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  4. ^ a b c Lampton, David M. (2024). Living U.S.-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-8725-8.
  5. ^ "United Nations Population Award to Indira Gandhi and Qian Xinzhong". Population and Development Review. 9 (4). Population Council: 747–753. December 1983. doi:10.2307/1973563. JSTOR 1973563.