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China unveils action plan for universal access to basic health care

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-07 19:01

China unveiled a three-year action plan on health care reform Tuesday, which it said would lay a solid foundation for equitable and universal access to essential health care for all in China.

Under the 850 billion yuan ($124 billion) plan for 2009 to 2011, the government promised universal access to basic health insurance, introduction of an essential drug system, improved primary health care facilities, equitable access to basic public health services and pilot reform of state-run hospitals.

The document from the State Council, or Cabinet, detailed tasks and goals for the 2009-2011 period as the government explained how it would implement its long-term health care reform plan, which it announced Monday.

Related readings:  China unveils health-care reform guidelines  Wen: China's health care reform aims at public interest  Roadmap must lead back to basics  China to invest 850b yuan in medical reform

The plan did not elaborate how the 850 billion yuan, including 331.8 billion yuan from the central budget, would be used.

But it is widely expected to be spent on subsidizing basic medical insurance programs, supporting grassroots-level health facilities and in underdeveloped western and rural regions.

"The three-year reform mainly targets the pressing problem that medical care is too expensive and hard to get, which has drawn many complaints from the people," said the document.

The current system had many problems, the government admitted.

"Some people are not covered by medical insurance, the public health sector has been weak for a long period, and state-run hospitals are too profit-obsessed," said the document.

"These problems must be solved to lay a solid foundation for the long term and for overall health care reform," it said.

China wants to have more than 90 percent of its population covered by some sort of basic medical insurance by 2011.

Three different insurance programs already exist for urban employees, unemployed urban residents and rural residents, into which governments, employers, and individuals contribute.

The health insurance subsidy offered by the government for unemployed urban residents and farmers will rise from 80 yuan per person to 120 yuan per person as of next year, according to the action plan.

The level of reimbursement an inpatient or an outpatient can get from one of the three programs will be gradually raised.

The reformers also intend to have more vulnerable people covered by insurance, such as retirees from bankrupt or financially troubled companies that can no longer pay for insurance, migrant workers and the self-employed.

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