BEIJING, Oct. 9 -- China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Wednesday said the inpatient mortality rate has been gradually declining in China.

China's inpatient mortality rate has fallen from 1.1 percent in 2005 to 0.44 percent in 2018, Guo Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference.

The mortality rate of hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction decreased from 6.12 percent in 2014 to 5.02 percent in 2017, according to Guo.

In addition, the mortality rate of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding decreased from 3.59 percent in 2014 to 1.72 percent in 2017.

Guo said the mortality rate of craniocerebral surgeries, which are difficult and risky, has been decreasing for five years.

The total number of medical and health workers in China surpassed 12.3 million, and the number of medical institutions was close to one million in 2018, said Guo.

Compared with 1949, average life expectancy in China rose from 35 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2018, according to data previously released by NHC.