In July 2025, England launched its “Fit for the Future” strategy outlining a 10-year plan to reform the NHS. The strategy focuses on expanding community-based care, accelerating digital infrastructure and investing in prevention. These objectives align closely with ongoing healthcare reforms in China where similar priorities are being pursued under the “Healthy China 2030” framework.
1,200 neighbourhood health centres
Both countries are moving care closer to where people live. England has established over 1,200 neighbourhood health centres which now serve more than 65% of the population. These centres aim to deliver multi-disciplinary services and reduce pressure on hospitals. In China, Community Health Service Centres (CHSCs) play a comparable role in urban and suburban settings. Programmes such as family doctor contracting and home-based rehabilitation are designed to strengthen primary care and manage demand for tertiary services.
A digital age
Digital transformation is also central to both strategies. The NHS processes over one billion electronic prescriptions each year resulting in significant cost savings and improvements in safety. Remote monitoring tools are being used to support patients with chronic illnesses and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. In China, national digital health platforms, AI-supported diagnostics and mobile consultations are being implemented including in rural areas. These tools are intended to support real-time clinical decision-making and reduce geographic disparities in access to care.
Prevention is a further area of alignment. England’s plan includes investment in early screening, health education and behavioural interventions. China’s national strategy sets quantitative targets for chronic disease prevention and broader health promotion. In both cases the goal is to reduce long-term system costs and improve population health outcomes.
Structural differences
Despite structural differences, England’s NHS is a centralised tax-funded system while China operates a mixed model with regional variation, both systems are focused on making care more accessible, efficient and equitable. These reforms respond to common challenges such as population ageing, chronic illness and rising demand for services.
Collaboration between the two countries is already under way. EFEC (Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy) supports joint programmes including digital care pilots, bilingual
exchanges and primary care innovation forums. These initiatives promote knowledge sharing and policy dialogue.
Alignment of principle
England’s “Fit for the Future” and China’s “Healthy China 2030” are distinct in execution but aligned in principle. Together they reflect a global shift toward integrated, community-based and prevention-led healthcare.
Original blog can be found at:
https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/chinese-perspective-englands-fit-future-n hs-plan
