Couples in Wuhu, Anhui province, had complained that they had to go through too many registration and certification processes to get public services for pregnancy and neonatal care.

Some documents covered prenatal health examinations, birth registrations and reproductive health services. Others dealt with so-called lying-in women - those resting in bed after childbirth - as well as newborns and young children.

"A total of seven registrations and certifications were required to take advantage of the services, which last until a child is 6 years old," said Zha Zhonghai, deputy director of Wuhu's health and family planning commission. "The process of getting all the papers could take months."

Wang Yongzhang, chief engineer of Wuhu government's information office, said each piece of paperwork required three to five working days and could only be obtained from the local community service centers.

It was not merely a matter of time. To get each piece of paperwork, a couple needed to provide a range of documents including identification cards, household registration booklet and marriage certificate.

"Sometimes they failed just because they forgot to bring a certain certificate," Wang said.

Last year, the health and family planning authorities launched an online system to combine all family planning-related registrations into one through cooperation with the information office.