Wang Ningli answers questions on March 3, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua] The increasing prevalence of nearsightedness, or myopia, among students in China has been a public health concern in recent years and has now come to discussion at one of China's most important meetings, at which national political advisers have called for intensified efforts to remedy the situation. There is some indication that vision issues, especially among the young, will be alleviated down the road. Rates of myopia among young people in some areas are drastically high, and the ages of people who first develop myopia keep falling, said Wang Ningli, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the annual session of the CPPCC on March 3 in Beijing. Doctors and technologies alone cannot control and prevent myopia. A national strategy and joint efforts from all of society are key, said Wang, who is also director of the Ophthalmic Center at Beijing Tongren Hospital. Myopia is particularly common among Chinese students, he said. In many medical colleges, about 90 percent of students wear eyeglasses, he said. And the number of people with severe nearsightedness is increasing, which should be dealt with properly, as such conditions can result in blindness, he said. Feng Danli, another CPPCC National Committee member and the chairwoman of Beijing Radiant Children's Eye Hospital, said more than 80 percent of college students in China wear glasses, and in recent years more kindergarten students have also developed myopia. In recent years, screening provided for more than 62,000 children in Beijing found that about 23 percent of those between the ages 4 and 6 did not have 20/20 vision, she said. The declining eyesight among minors has many causes, including overuse of electronic devices, heavy academic workloads and poor dietary practices, she said. Myopia not only affects the healthy growth of children, but also has a significant impact on national economic development, she said. In recent years, recruitment campaigns in some industries with higher vision requirements, such as aviation, have encountered increasing difficulty in finding enough qualified people due to the prevalence of myopia, she said. In addition to reducing homework loads for students and building vision-friendly classrooms, special laws or regulations should be made to ensure children and teenagers can have adequate rest for their eyes, Feng said. Feng also suggested establishing vision records for students, and that primary and middle schools and kindergartens conduct at least one vision checkup for students a year to give timely treatment to those with eyesight problems. He Wei, also a member of the CPPCC National Committee, said more attention should be given to children under age 6 to prevent and control myopia, as the first few years after birth are crucial for the development of vision. Children in rural and especially impoverished areas are less likely to get proper treatment for myopia, and greater efforts should be made to improve equipment and treatment in vision departments at local hospitals and clinics, said He. Wang, from Beijing Tongren Hospital, said the joint efforts of various parties, including health and education authorities, are crucial in preventing and controlling myopia among students. Parents should pay more attention to children's eyesight and encourage them to take part in sufficient outdoor physical activities after school, he said. The myopia rate among young people in China is expected to noticeably decline by 2030, with the percentage of myopic middle school students falling to below 60 percent, under a plan jointly released by eight ministries and central government departments last year. According to a report released by the Ministry of Education last year, myopia has become a prominent problem for Chinese students, with the rate of myopic eighth-graders standing at more than 65 percent. printed wristbandsfibromyalgia bracelet siliconepersonalized wristbands canadabest place to buy silicone wristbandsblank wristbands
[Photo/VCG] National lawmakers, advisers call for more effective supervisory approaches National legislators and political advisers seek more effective supervision of the healthcare products market to protect consumers, amid an ongoing nationwide campaign to tamp down irregularities in the sector, including unethical promotion and false advertising. Legislation should be improved to provide clear definitions of various types of healthcare products, and regulate their manufacture, advertising and distribution, Pan Xiaoyan, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, said during the body's annual session, which ended on Wednesday. Healthcare products are widely sold across China, primarily focusing on the elderly, but they are also a top source of complaints, Pan said, adding that more effective supervision from authorities is needed. Rampant irregularities in the healthcare products sector is in part caused by lack of supervision, said Pan, who is also a lawyer. About 200 billion yuan ($29.8 billion) of healthcare products are sold annually in China, with more than half consumed by the elderly, according to China Health Care Association. Yuan Wen, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, and president of Shanghai Open University, said more measures are needed to fight fraud against the elderly. For example, rules should be made to allow the elderly to return health products within seven days of purchase without specifying a reason, and to require warning signs in stores that sell healthcare products saying they do not have a medical effect, she said. Investigations into 6,535 suspected violations or irregularities in the healthcare products market have been initiated in China over the past two months as part of a nationwide campaign, the top market regulatory authority said on Thursday, ahead of World Consumer Rights Day, which fell on Friday. The total value involved was estimated at 7.8 billion yuan, including 174 cases that were transferred to judicial organs for criminal investigation, said Yan Jun, an official at the State Administration for Market Regulation, who is responsible for fighting pyramid schemes and regulating direct selling. Nearly 2,300 cases have been resolved, he said. Cases involving false advertising or unethical promotion were most common, accounting for more than 38 percent of the total, he said. The 100-day campaign to fight irregularities in the healthcare market was launched on Jan 8 by 13 central government departments, including the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Health Commission. The campaign targets major irregularities and violations of law in the healthcare sector that have drawn heavy customer complaints, including substandard products and the exaggeration of a product's curative effects. The rare nationwide campaign targeting the sector followed accusations in the media in December that Quanjian Nature Medicine Technology Co, a healthcare products company based in Tianjin, was involved in various forms of malpractice. The company's founder was detained by police in January. Yan, from the State market regulation authority, said challenges remain despite ongoing campaigns. Some business owners have suspended business or turned to underground business operations to escape supervision, he said. Some people, especially the elderly, easily fall into the traps of sellers through offers of free gifts or discounts, and they even resist efforts by law enforcement to handle cases. The administration will work with other departments to establish a regular mechanism for better supervision of the healthcare sector, and a draft will be released soon to solicit public opinion, he said.
