Chinese medical reform draft open to public debate

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-14 19:40

The plan listed public health, rural areas, city community health services and basic medical insurance as four key areas for government investment.

The plan also promised to tighten government control over medical fees in public hospitals and to set up a "basic medicine system" to quell public complaints of rising drug costs.

The basic medicine system includes a catalogue of necessary drugs that would be produced and distributed under government control and supervision. Its goal is to ensure accessibility to a range of basic medicines and to prevent manufacturers and business people from circumventing existing price controls.

The draft was formulated by a team of officials and experts from 16 departments, including the Ministry of Health and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Bai Chong'en, one of the plan's authors, said the team has visited more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions over the past two years.

"It's fair to say that the research was quite comprehensive and we've found where there are problems," said Tsinghua University Professor Bai.

He said the team also held many seminars on the key issues including the establishment of a basic drug system, governmental medical investment, medical insurance, drug pricing mechanisms and the development of private medical institutions.

"There were few disputes on the development of the public health sector and the bigger government responsibility. Debates focused on whether government should invest more money into basic medical insurance or into public medical service," Bai said.

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