China plans to further medicare reform in the near future, reducing the price of medicine and protecting people’s health.
Central official departments and local authorities must quickly establish the medical insurance procedure for urban employees, which were outlined by the State Council, Li Jian’ge, vice director of the Office for Restructuring the Economy of the State Council, said in the People’s Daily Monday.
The state’s health administrations, including the Ministry of Health, will oversee nationwide hospitals instead of running them, Li said.
Meanwhile, the administrative authorities will stimulate competition among hospitals and other organizations providing health service throughout the country.
Li also urged the hospitals to restructure and provide better service to patients.
In addition, the country has started to separate hospitals and pharmacies and shift pharmacies into individual drug retailers.
The State Drug Administration (SDA) will further implement the Good Manufacture Practice (GMP) and Good Sales Practice (GSP) in the market, ensuring consumers buy quality and effective drugs, the newspaper said.
(Xinhua 10/16/2000)
