Formulating national health policies.

Co-ordinating and advancing medical and healthcare reforms.

Establishing a national basic medicine system.

Supervising and administrating public health, medicare and health emergencies.

Managing family planning services.

Drawing up policies and measures to cope with an aging population and incorporating medicare with old-age care.

Assuming management of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (国家中医药管理局), which is responsible for the regulation of the traditional Chinese medicines.