China to further deepen reform of healthcare system

A medical worker shows a patient how to use WeChat to access hospital services in Foshan, Guangdong province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

BEIJING - China will further deepen reform in healthcare this year with key factors for the reform discussed at a meeting of the central government on Wednesday.

The State Council, the country's cabinet, convened a regular executive meeting Wednesday and determined that healthcare reform should benefit more people.

Key sectors for healthcare reform this year were decided at the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Plans discussed included expanding the number of cities piloting urban public hospital reform from 100 to 200, implementing a tiered medical care pilot project in 70 percent of the country's prefectural-level areas, and improving the compensation system in a bid to abolish the drug price addition policy of public hospitals in new pilot cities.

Other focuses included implementing a centralized procurement of drugs used by public hospitals, improving the performance-based remuneration system in grassroots health institutions, and building a national network for basic health insurance settlement so that people can reimburse their medical expenses in different places.

Critical disease insurance will cover all people within the year, according to the healthcare reform plan, which noted that subsidies per capita for basic health insurance and basic public health services will be raised.

The number of resident physicians receiving standardized training will be increased by 70,000, including 5,000 pediatricians, according to the meeting.