Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang Tuesday urged greater efforts should be made to expand medical reform this year.

At a meeting of the leading group for furthering medical reform under the State Council, Li said to advance reform and development of medicine and health care cause, priority of work should go to establishment of a basic health care service system accessible to all and improvement of health care service at grassroots level.

A good job should be done in basic health care insurance this year, with a goal of achieving notable increases in the numbers of urban workers and other residents taking out medical insurance policies.

"Great efforts should be made to encourage those working with economic organizations of non-public ownership, college undergraduates, self-employed people, and migrant workers to participate in the medical insurance program, while stabilizing the rate of participation in rural health care cooperative system well beyond 90 percent," said Li.

The vice premier also promised to raise per capita subsidy by the government for basic health care insurance takers and participants in rural medical cooperatives to 120 yuan (US$17.64).

Li demanded not less than 60 percent of grassroots health institutions should use medicines on the essential drug list, urging authorities to take measures to reduce the prices of overpriced medicines.

He also emphasized the importance of continuing to carry out major public health service programs, such as inoculation of 21 million children with Hepatitis B vaccines.

"It is also imperative to implement a plan nationwide for building a grassroots team of medical and health care workers, with training of general practitioners as the focus," said Li, who also set a target of training 60,000 general practitioners in three years.

While urging efforts to improve long-term aiding ties among some 3,000 hospitals, Li said the reform at public hospitals should also be expanded and a good job should be done in experimental centers in 16 chosen cities.

The vice premier also stressed need to encourage and guide social forces to build medical establishments.

Li also asked government departments to strengthen leadership and provide financial support for the medical reform.