Li Dequan was the first Minister of Health of the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

.

Born in Tong County, Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

, she participated in democracy campaign in early years. She was married to Feng Yuxiang

Feng Yuxiang

Feng Yuxiang was a warlord and leader in Republican China. He was also known as the Christian General for his zeal to convert his troops and the Betrayal General for his penchant to break with the establishment. In 1911, he was an officer in the ranks of Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army but joined...

 in 1924. During Sino-Japanese War

Second Sino-Japanese War

The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...

, she organized "War-time Children Fostering Commission" and served as vice chairman. After the war, she founded China Women Association and became its chairman. In January 1948, she was elected central executive member of Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang

Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang

The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang is one of eight registered minor political parties in the People's Republic of China....

. She joined Communist Party of China

Communist Party of China

The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...

 in December 1958.

After formation of the People's Republic of China, Li was appointed as the first Minister of Health of the PRC central government. She also served as chairman of Red Cross Society of China

Red Cross Society of China

The Red Cross Society of China is the national Red Cross Society in the People's Republic of China.-Origins and history before 1949:...

. Her other posts included vice chairman of China-USSR Friendship Association, member of Commission of Culture and Education of the State Council, vice chairman of China National Sports Commission, and vice chairman of China People's National Commission of Children Protection.

Li served as a standing committee member of 1st to 3rd Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...

(CPPCC), and vice chairman of 4th CPPCC.

She died in Beijing in 1972.