Chinese medical institutions will begin issuing paper and electronic death certificates simultaneously starting January 1, 2027, as part of efforts to improve efficiency and public services.

This is according to a circular released on Friday.

The circular was jointly issued by five government departments, including the National Health Commission.

These aim to standardise the registration and management of medical death certificate information and to promote the use of electronic credentials, making related procedures more convenient for the public.

The circular said that beginning from July 1 this year, medical and health institutions nationwide will adopt a unified format and coding system for medical death certificates.

Both paper documents and electronic certificates will carry equal legal validity.

Authorities will also establish a nationally unified electronic information system for medical death certificates, regulate issuance timelines and electronic seals, and optimise procedures for certificate issuance and reissuance in various circumstances.

A medical death certificate, issued by healthcare institutions to certify a person’s death and cause of death, is a key document required for household registration cancellation and funeral arrangements.

It is jointly administered by the health, public security, and civil affairs authorities.

The circular further calls for standardised data collection and strengthened information verification, statistical analysis and interdepartmental data sharing, in a bid to build an authoritative national mortality database and support more accurate population health analysis and life expectancy calculations.

(Xinhua/NAN)