Insurance to include treatment, diagnosis of birth defects

The national health authority has pledged to include diagnosis and treatment of birth defects under health insurance programs.

One baby suffering a birth defect is born every 20 seconds in China. Currently, about 5.6 percent of babies in China have defects, or approximately 900,000 newborns each year, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The rate is higher than the usual 3-4 percent in most developed countries.