医疗改革的新阶段

According to the State Council, the government will expand insurance coverage, lower drug prices, increase reimbursement levels and reform public hospitals.

The medical insurance coverage rate will apply to no less than 95 percent of the country. An annual per-capita subsidy of 240 yuan will be provided for basic medical insurance programs designed for urban and rural residents.

People living in rural areas will receive a much higher rate of medical reimbursement than before, rising from six times the annual average income per capita to eight times; no less than 60 thousand yuan per year.

President of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Zeng Yixin says the deepening reform is benefiting all Chinese people.

"Personal expenses used to cover clinic and hospital treatment will be greatly reduced very soon thanks to the higher rate of reimbursement and wider coverage of medical insurance. This is good news for the general populace as they will no longer have to worry as much about medical expenses."

Under the new scheme, more serious diseases can be covered by the medical insurance. Up to now, people in China suffering from some serious illnesses may have faced serious financial difficulties due to the sky-high costs of medicines and hospital treatment which are not covered by the basic insurance. But very soon, twenty additional serious diseases such as Children's leucosis, Uremia, breast cancer, and uterine cervix cancer will be partially covered.

President of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Zeng Yixin says the reform can help more people suffering from such diseases.

"The scheme has included most of the diseases which may lead to family bankruptcy within the insurance coverage. This is really beneficial for everyone. When the basic medical insurance can cover part of the expenses, the other costs can be partially reimbursed under special aid schemes provided by the government."

The government has also emphasized that the reform of public hospitals at county level should also be carried forward. A pilot reform program will be carried out in about 300 county-level hospitals in regards to their management, funding, personnel, medicine supply and pricing systems. Zeng Yixin says he expects to see a more balanced medical system emerge in China.

"If the county-level hospitals can succeed in their medical reform, then people won't have to go to big cities in order to seek treatment. We foresee a bright future where hospitals in big cities will be less crowded and people pay less."

At present, doctors in China have to prescribe expensive medicines in order to receive greater incomes; a practice which is allowed by public hospitals in China. But the government has called for an end to this system. A doctor's performance will now be evaluated based on the number of patients they see on a daily basis and the quality of service they provide. Whether the upcoming reform can make an impact on the insufficient practices of the current system remains to be seen.

For CRI, I'm Liu Min.