China's Ministry of Health (MOH) is researching reforms to the
medical care system in conjunction with other ministries, said a
MOH official at a national health work meeting.
The MOH had earlier promised to hammer out medicare system
reforms in 2007.
The meeting decided to transform some public hospitals into
community medical service providers that offer basic medical
services for community residents and migrant workers.
Minister of Health Gao Qiang said on Monday at the same meeting
that the country will improve its medicare system by extending
access to reasonably priced medical care and medical insurance in
rural areas and urban communities.
The government will pay for the salaries of medicare staff and
will increase investment in medical institutions in rural areas and
urban communities, so as to reduce medical costs borne by patients,
said Gao.
Gao said the government-funded medicare system aims to provide
equal medical care for both rural and urban residents, and thus
narrow regional differences.
From January to September last year, 140 million farmers
benefited from a rural medicare system. Under the system, farmers,
local and central government each chip in 10 yuan per year per
person to a medical fund. Farmers who contribute to the scheme can
then get a certain proportion of their medical expenses refunded,
according to Gao.
He added that the country will also improve its medical
insurance system to provide better financial support for patients
with serious illnesses.
But he said a unified national medical insurance system is not
yet on the horizon due to the country's low level of urbanization,
widening wealth gap, and vast contrast in regional development.
According to a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
(CASS), medical costs are the biggest burden facing Chinese people.
The report shows that 11.8 percent of household expenditure goes on
health care, higher than communication and education.
Another national survey on medical services, conducted in 2006,
showed 49 percent of Chinese refuse to see a doctor when ill and 30
percent refuse to be hospitalized due to the high cost.
Gao Qiang also called for stricter hospital management and a
standardized drug use system at Monday's conference.
"A drug system that guarantees safety and low prices, and a
hospital management system which stresses public service instead of
commercial profit are essential to improving health in China and
the development of China's medicare system," Gao said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2007)
