China's Ministry of Finance said on Thursday that it will earmark 7.15 billion yuan (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) for boosting the quality of rural health care.

As part of the central government's budget, the money will be distributed to 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The funds will be used to improve rural health care infrastructure and facilities, the statement said.