Prevention and Treatment of Pneumoconiosis in the Context of Healthy China 2030

Since the onset of reform and opening-up policies, China has risen to become the world's second-largest economy.This transformative period has witnessed considerable advancements in medical services provision, resulting in significant improvements in the overall healthcare landscape.A noteworthy accomplishment is the creation of the world's largest and most comprehensive social security system.Adhering to principles of inclusivity, multi-tiered coverage, and long-term sustainability, this system guarantees the fulfillment of basic life necessities.By the end of 2022, over 1 billion individuals were covered by basic old-age insurance, 238 million by unemployment insurance, 291 million by work-related injury insurance, and more than 1.3 billion by basic medical insurance (1).Despite extraordinary progress, noticeable gaps remain in healthcare and support services.This is especially true for migrant workers suffering from pneumoconiosis, a condition induced by prolonged exposure to dust in the workplace. Advancements in the Prevention and Treatment of Pneumoconiosis in ChinaCurrent situation As of the end of 2021, China reported approximately 951,000 pneumoconiosis cases, constituting a significant portion-90%-of all occupational disease cases.There are approximately 450,000 active cases of occupational pneumoconiosis, primarily from coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and silicosis (2).Unfortunately, there are scarce effective pharmaceutical interventions and technologies to halt the progression of pneumoconiosis, which often coincides with other conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), lung cancer, and mesothelioma; these comorbidities further degrade patients' quality of life.Alarmingly, statistical data indicate that approximately 7.5% of pneumoconiosis patients in China also suffer from PTB (3).Pneumoconiosis remains the most prevalent and severe occupational disease nationwide.