Saving lives is the first priority

The Ministry of Health has proposed an expansion of the new medical payment method of “treat first, pay later” later this year.

The new payment approach is a remarkable development in the country’s medical reforms, which will prove a great benefit to people’s lives and their finances, although it will not be easy to implement, says an article on gmw.cn. Excerpts:

The new system, once applied, will allow patients to pay after they receive medical treatment.

Currently, Chinese citizens must pay first for operations and treatment. Patients must pay their bills and then apply for a reimbursement covered by medical insurance, usually more than 70 percent of the total treatment fees.

The approach has won extensive public support as it values life and people’s livelihood ahead of payment.

There have been media reports about many tragedies taking place due to people’s inability to pay deposits before treatment.

There have even been cases of people being forced to get money by illegal means, or give up on their treatment, or loss of life as a result of their inability to pay first.

The newly proposed measures to extend the “pay-after” treatment system will prevent anyone having to face the prospect of paying up or dying.

However, it might also put added financial burden on local hospitals, as it will still be difficult for many poorer people to pay off their bills afterwards, due to insufficient levels of social credit and medical insurance reimbursement.

Practical problems such as settlements of trans-regional medical expenses may also occur.

But despite some hurdles ahead, it is still feasible and worthwhile to try and implement the system nationwide as the country moves towards increasing the levels of reimbursement covered by medical insurance, and bettering credit systems for disadvantaged groups.

Translated by Dong Fangyu