The average life expectancy of citizens in Shanghai reached 83.67 years in 2020, an increase of 0.04 years from 2018, according to local authorities.

Elderly residents take part in an art class at the day-care center in a citizen service station in Jiaxing sub-district, Shanghai's Hongkou district. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Based on statistics released by the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission on Thursday, the infant mortality rate was 2.66 deaths per thousand live births and the maternal mortality rate was 3.66 per 100,000 last year.

Fifty internet hospitals platforms were launched in the city last year, together with 134 new smart health houses in neighborhoods and 11 medical emergency sub-stations.

The average ambulance response time was shortened to less than 12 minutes. Over 8 million residents have access to family doctors.

To drive the development of high-quality health services for residents, Shanghai will accelerate construction of monitoring and emergency systems for infectious diseases, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the city will continue to cooperate with cities in the Yangtze River Delta regarding the prevention and control of COVID-19. It will also construct high-level medical centers, improve health services in communities, and promote industry management reform and innovation.

According to the authorities, six emergency medical services substations, 30 community rehabilitation centers, and 100 health service centers in neighborhoods across the city are expected to be built this year.