Health Minister Praises HSPH China Initiative

Chen Zhu

In a keynote speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing on January 12, China's Health Minister Chen Zhu described the HSPH China Initiative as becoming the "most influential training program for China's health sector leaders."

The China Initiative was established three years ago by HSPH in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Health and Tsinghua University. The Initiative's goal is to address and propose solutions to the immense challenges that afflict China's health system. Since 2006 the Initiative has helped train 121 senior health executives from China's central and provincial governments.

In his speech, Minister Chen reiterated the commitment of the Chinese government to establish a more equitable and efficient health system. He praised the HSPH China Initiative for its role in helping to enhance health policy leadership capacity and preparedness in the country.

Fifty alumni of the Initiative's China Senior Health Executive Education Program attended the meeting and inaugurated the HSPH China Initiative Alumni Association. Speakers included Professor Chen Xun, Vice President of Tsinghua University, Yuanli Liu, director of the HSPH China Initiative, and four of the Initiative's alumni representatives who are provincial health directors. Fifteen students from HSPH, who were conducting a WinterSession course in China, also attended.