About 3.5 million had birth control apparatus removed last year; more are expected to follow

Health workers in China are expected to help at least 3.5 million women remove intrauterine devices following the implementation of the universal two-child policy this year, according to China's top health authority.

Local health authorities will continue to provide such services for free during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) to help couples have a second child, Song Li, deputy head of maternal and infant healthcare at the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said at a news conference on Monday.