The Beijing Municipal Government on Tuesday pledged to provide comprehensive assistance to victims of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) who may have difficulties paying for treatment.
According to the government's plan, SARS patients from poor families who enjoy governmental minimum living standard subsidies will have their medical expenses covered by the government.
Working and retired people with medical insurance will pay for SARS treatment through their insurers. The urban unemployed will benefit from unemployment insurance, officials said.
For those who are not included in the above-mentioned categories, hospitals are required to offer complete treatment services, and the fees will be selectively subsidized by the government.
According to the Beijing Health Bureau, as of the end of the day Monday, the city had confirmed 37 SARS cases. Four of them have died, and eight have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
