Secure the Bottom Line of Livelihood (Policy Interpretation) Related | Standards | Bottom Line

The national basic public service standards are the bottom line standards for ensuring people's livelihoods. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments jointly issued the National Basic Public Service Standards.

Why do we need to adjust the national basic public service standards? What are the characteristics of this adjustment? What benefits will it bring to the people? The reporter interviewed relevant officials from the National Development and Reform Commission.

A clear and explicit "welfare form"

In 2021, China introduced the basic public service standards for the first time, covering 80 basic public service projects in 9 fields including early childhood education, education, employment, medical care, elderly care, housing, assistance for the weak, military service guarantee, and cultural and sports service guarantee.

"The national standards have clarified the objects, content, standards, expenditure responsibilities, and leading responsible units of basic public service projects, becoming an important basis for the government to fulfill its public service responsibilities and for the people to enjoy corresponding rights." The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said.

For government departments, the National Basic Public Service Standards define the scope and degree of the government's livelihood guarantee, which is a "hard commitment" made by the government to the people and must be fulfilled. It is a "responsibility letter" that all levels of government must fulfill.

For the people, the national basic public service standards clarify the basic public service items that the people can enjoy in accordance with the law. It is a clear welfare bill with clear service items and standards, and also a clear card to protect their own rights and interests.

After the introduction of national standards, various regions have formulated and introduced implementation standards for basic public services in their respective regions based on national standards and actual needs; Each department has also compared with national standards, further refined and improved existing standard specifications, and formulated a number of urgently needed industry standards.

"At this point, the basic public service standard system framework covering national, industry, local, and grassroots service institutions in China has been completed." The person in charge said that as of now, the 80 basic public service projects of the 2021 version of the national standard have been basically implemented, playing a positive role in ensuring and improving people's livelihoods.

However, with the changing economic and social development situation, the urgent and difficult worries of the people have changed. Timely updating and improving national standards, realizing the normalization and dynamic adjustment of the scope and guarantee standards of basic public services, is an inevitable requirement for improving the basic public service system.

According to relevant requirements, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments, has initiated the dynamic adjustment of the national basic public service standards, formed a new version of the national basic public service standards, and released it to the public.

More comprehensive protection of rights and interests

Observing the National Standard 2023, while maintaining the overall structure consistent with the old version of the national standard, some service projects have been added, improved, and adjusted.

"Zeng" - Added the service of "supplementing folic acid to prevent neural tube defects", which is to supplement folic acid for rural planned pregnancy and childbirth women from 3 months before pregnancy to 3 months in the early pregnancy, and provide health guidance, tracking and follow-up services.

"This service is a major public health service project for women and children. It will be included in the national basic public service standards this time, with the aim of providing stronger institutional guarantees for rural women to enjoy this service," said the relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

"Ti" - raising three service standards. In the "exemption of miscellaneous fees during the compulsory education stage", the benchmark quota of per capita public funds for primary school students has been increased from 650 yuan to 720 yuan, and for junior high school students from 850 yuan to 940 yuan. The public funds for boarding schools have increased by 300 yuan per year based on the benchmark quota of per capita public funds, an increase of 100 yuan.

In addition, the national basic standard for nutritional and dietary subsidies for rural compulsory education students has been increased from 4 yuan per student per day to 5 yuan per student per day; In the "Special Assistance for Family Planning" service project, there has been a significant increase in monthly special assistance funds per person for different categories of service recipients, with growth rates of over 30%.

"Adjustment" - expanding the service targets of "rural dilapidated house renovation" to rural households on the edge of subsistence allowances and other poverty-stricken households who have not received support from rural housing security policies and cannot solve housing safety problems on their own; Expand the scope of "concentrated support for special groups" service to disabled soldiers at levels one to four who have retired from active service, and soldiers who require long-term medical care or are single and unable to be resettled separately.

According to the latest documents, the service content, standards, and expenditure responsibilities of 41 services such as maternal health services and maternity insurance have been standardized and improved; The leading responsible units for 10 projects, including vaccination, health education, and health literacy promotion, have been adjusted to further clarify departmental responsibilities.

"The introduction of the new version of the National Basic Public Service Standards essentially means that the government has made a new commitment to ensuring people's livelihoods," said the relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission. The new version of the national standard requires more practical and crucial tasks related to people's livelihoods, and there will also be more investment in various resources. This means that the public can enjoy a higher level of welfare, receive more benefits, and receive more comprehensive protection of their rights and interests.

Adhere to the principle of doing one's best and acting within one's capabilities

What are the principles followed in this adjustment of the national basic public service standards?

The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission stated that there is evidence to follow and a system to follow, and we should do our best and act within our capacity. The basic principle is to maintain stability and make minor adjustments. "Adjusting the national basic public service standards must be based on clear documents from the Party Central Committee, the State Council, or existing laws and regulations."

The person in charge introduced that in recent years, some industry regulatory departments have launched new service projects, improved service standards, expanded service targets and content, and timely improved the national basic public service standards in accordance with changes in relevant industry standards, which is conducive to ensuring the accuracy, seriousness, and authority of national standards.

At the same time, the adjustment of national basic public service standards should fully consider the economic development status and fiscal burden capacity, actively respond to the expectations of the masses, and avoid overestimating appetite and excessive commitment. The person in charge emphasized that adjustments such as adding new service projects, improving service standards, and expanding service scope have all undergone strict financial capacity assessments to ensure that the new standards can be implemented and sustainable.

"Next, we will do a good job in all aspects, implement the allocation of various resources such as personnel, financial resources, and facilities, and ensure that the service 'promises must be met'," said the relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a notice requiring all regions to adjust the implementation standards of basic public services in their respective regions in accordance with the National Standard 2023 and based on local conditions, to ensure that they are not lower than the national standard. The implementation standards in various regions should be issued and implemented before the end of December this year, and timely disclosed to the society.

In the implementation process, various regions should also follow the principle of doing their best and acting within their capabilities. The notice requires that for new service projects that exceed national standards, improving service standards, expanding service targets, and increasing service content, all regions should effectively strengthen financial capacity assessment, fulfill relevant approval procedures, and ensure financial security and sustainable services.