http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/14/content_10218424.htm
BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's long-awaited health care reform
plan, which aims at providing universal medical service to 1.3 billion
people, was released Tuesday for public debate.
The country wants a health care system that covers all urban and
rural residents by 2020. According to the plan, that care should be
safe, effective, convenient and affordable.
The plan breaks up the health care system in to four departments:
public health service, medical treatment, medical insurance and
medicine supply.
Medical reform has been deliberated by authorities since 2006.
Growing public criticism of soaring medical fees, lack of access
to affordable medical service, poor doctor-patient relationships and
low medical insurance coverage compelled China to launch the new round
of reforms.
China once prided itself for a government sponsored "socialized
medicine" system, in which most Chinese, including urban and rural
residents, enjoyed low-priced medical service.
However, when China began economic reforms in the early 1980s, the
system was dismantled to ease government burdens and changed to a
market-oriented health care system.
Insufficient government funding resulted in deficits for public
health institutions, thus opening doors for hospitals to generate
their own revenue by raising fees and aggressively selling drugs.
The reformed plan clarifies government's responsibility by saying
that it plays a dominant role in providing public health and basic
medical service.
"Both central and local governments should increase health
funding. The percentage of government's input in total health
expenditure should be increased gradually so that the financial burden
of individuals can be reduced," the draft said.
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 businesspeople 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 andthe
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.
To have a more balanced view, the Chinese government entrusted
nine domestic and overseas organizations including the World Health
Organization to conduct independent research. Their opinions were
included in the draft.
In early 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission
started a website, inviting public opinions on medical reform. The
commission received 1,500 suggestions and 600 letters in less than six
months.
The draft will be open for public debate until Nov. 14. People can
visit the website: http://www.shs.ndrc.gov.cn/yg (Chinese) to leave
suggestions and comments.
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