A new national health and family planning commission will be established by merging the National Population and Family Planning Commission with the Ministry of Health, according to the report on the State Council's institutional reforms and the transformation of government functions.

Although no time scale has been announced, the new commission will be in charge of planning the allocation of resources for medical care and public health. It will also oversee family planning services and formulate policy, and supervise and administer public health and medical care, according to the report.

"That will herald the formation of a new 'super-department' responsible for health and population-related issues of the populace from birth to death," said Chen Xiaohong, vice-minister of health and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.