What is a reproductive health certificate?

The Reproductive Health Certificate is an official certificate issued by local health authorities to prove that the holder meets the requirements of fertility-related policies, has reached reproductive health standards, and can enjoy supporting benefits such as maternity medical reimbursement, maternal and child health services, maternity leave allowance application, etc. In most areas of the country, it has been merged with the birth registration certificate and is no longer issued separately.

When my little sister who was preparing to get pregnant last year went through the procedures in Suzhou, she checked the guide for a long time at first, thinking about how to go through the reproductive health certificate process separately. However, when she went to the community for birth registration, the staff directly told her that now the two certificates were combined into one. She could just fill out a simple registration form, show her ID card and marriage certificate, and it would be done in ten minutes. The birth registration certificate stamped with the stamp of the street health office was what everyone used to call the reproductive health certificate. Later, she went to the hospital to file, took out the maternity insurance to reimburse her prenatal check-up expenses, and applied for half-year maternity subsidy, all relying on this piece of paper, and no other certificates were issued.

When it comes to this certificate, many people have different opinions. Some people think that now that childbirth is encouraged, is it an extra step to require this kind of certificate? I have talked with the staff in charge of birth registration in the street before, and they think that the existence of this certificate actually saves everyone trouble. It is equivalent to integrating all birth-related welfare rights into this voucher. It is a bit like the universal bracelet we buy at a theme park. You can connect to all corresponding services by scanning it, and you don’t have to go to a department to issue a certificate every time you do something.

In the early years before the merger, the reproductive health certificates in some areas would also include the results of pre-pregnancy eugenic health examinations. If there were any risks that needed attention, the community's maternal and child specialists would proactively contact them to remind them. Now that this information is simultaneously entered into the birth registration system, it is more convenient than before. Many expectant mothers have just finished their first-trimester B-ultrasound and receive reminders from the community to receive folic acid and free pregnancy screening. They do not need to keep track of the time. Of course, there are also slight differences in local policies. A few remote areas may still issue this certificate separately. If you are not sure, just call the local health department and ask. This will save you a wasted trip.