Cui Yitian

Cui Yitian (; 1906–1989) was a Chinese politician, military medical official, and public health administrator of the People's Republic of China. He played a significant role in the development of military and civilian medical systems during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and the early years of the People's Republic of China.

Biography

Cui Yitian was born in 1906 in Jinxi, Liaoning Province. He received his early medical education at Liaoning Medical College. In 1935, while working at Shengjing Medical College in Shenyang, Cui was arrested by Japanese police. In 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, he joined the New Fourth Army, where he assumed senior leadership roles in military medical services. He served successively as president of the Base Area Hospital, part of the New Fourth Army's Military Medical Department in Zhangjiadu, Jingxian County, and later as deputy minister and minister of its Health Department, contributing to the establishment and organization of wartime medical systems.

During the later stages of the Chinese Civil War, Cui held a number of key positions in military health administration. He served as head of the Health Department of the New Fourth Army and the Shandong Military Region, and later as director of the Health Departments of the East China Military Region and the East China Field Army. He subsequently became director of the Health Department of the Logistics Department of the Third Field Army, where he oversaw large-scale medical support operations.

Following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Cui transitioned to senior roles in civilian public health administration. He was appointed minister of health of the East China Military and Administrative Committee and later served as director of the Health Department of the Shanghai Military Control Commission, concurrently holding the post of director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau. He was later appointed vice minister of health of the People's Republic of China. In addition to his government duties, Cui also served as vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and vice president of the Chinese Medical Association.

Cui Yitian died in Beijing on 12 June 1989.