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China unveils action plan for universal access to basic health care

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

Promising good management

The broad principles contained in China's new reform "are in line with what the World Health Organization (WHO) is promoting. For example, the principle of equity, the principle of having the poor (covered by) health policies," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday.

The government promised good management and supervision of funds for the insurance programs, and it said it would explore more rational and convenient methods for people to use the programs.

To lower prescription costs, which have drawn much criticism, the government will promote a system of essential medicines for state-run hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. A list of essential drugs will be published this year.

Due to longstanding low government funding for state-run hospitals, which in many places only covers 10 percent of operating costs, doctors often aggressively prescribe expensive, sometimes unnecessary medicines and treatment, in order to make profits for the hospital.

This situation has meant high medical bills and corruption in the medical profession.

The reformers want to designate essential drugs, at controlled prices, to cut the cost of hospital services, while promising to increase funding to non-profit state-run hospitals and clinics that will continue to be dominant service providers.

Improving primary care

To improve primary health care facilities, China will give priority to construction of about 2,000 county-level hospitals so each county would have at least one hospital that was essentially in compliance with national standards.

The central government will fund the construction of 29,000 township hospitals this year and upgrading of 5,000 township hospitals, under the plan.

The central government will also finance the construction of village clinics in remote areas so that every village will have a clinic in the next three years.

It said 3,700 community health centers and 11,000 community health stations would be set up or upgraded in cities.

Improving training

In the next three years, China will train 1.37 million village doctors and 160,000 community doctors. Also, city-level hospitals, which usually have better expertise and equipment, will each be required to help three county-level hospitals to improve the skills of medics.

Doctors at city hospitals and disease control agencies will be asked to serve in rural hospitals for at least one year before they can be promoted.

Other measures include setting up a universal medical records database, which will be strictly managed, regular exams for those older than 65 or younger than three, and prenatal checkups.

In addition to programs to prevent or control major diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, China will launch new projects to help those below the age of 15 receive Hepatitis B vaccines, eliminate risks from coal-burning fluorine poisoning and improve rural water and sanitation facilities.

It will also provide folic acid to rural women who intend to get pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy, to prevent birth defects.

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