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China to boost medical service accessibility

Xinhua, March 23, 2012

• PUBLIC HOSPITAL REFORM

  According to the circular, priority will be given to county-level hospitals in the country's public hospital reform efforts for the next four years, aiming to make them capable of handling more cases.

  China will also launch a pilot reform program in about 300 county-level public hospitals, aiming to eliminate the practice of subsidizing medical treatment expenses by jacking up the cost of prescription medicine.

  Public hospital reform efforts will also include the introduction of modern hospital management and intensified administration and supervision, Zhang said.

  However, Zhang admitted that securing sufficient government spending and competent personnel in the sector will be significant challenges in the process of reform.

  OTHER GOALS

  Authorities will give a boost to private hospitals by lowering their market access threshold and offering favorable policies, the circular stated. By the end of 2015, the number of beds in private hospitals should represent around 20 percent of the total.

  China will increase its expenditure on public health services per head. By the end of 2015, the per capita public health allowance will rise to over 40 yuan. Free public health services will be provided to urban and rural residents, including vaccination, maternal and elderly care and the management of chronic diseases, among others.

  By the end of 2015, 75 percent of urban and rural residents will have electronic health files, according to the plan.

  The plan also asks community-level clinics to improve their ability to provide traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services, stating that 95 percent of urban community health centers and over 65 percent of village clinics should be able to provide TCM services.

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