As required by the Chinese State Council, Chen Zhu, Chinese Health Minister, made a report on promoting urban and rural health system reform and strengthening food and drug safety on the 31st Session of the 10th Standing Committee Meeting of the China People’s Congress. He talked about establishing an overall framework for the basic healthcare by 2010 and establishing basic healthcare system covering all Chinese urban and rural population.
He said the ultimate goal for deepening the health reform is to build up a basic healthcare system covering all Chinese urban and rural population, to provide safety, effective, convenient, and affordable public health and basic health care, and to ensure an universal coverage of basic health care. He pointed out the 6 priorities for health system reform:
Firstly, to stress on public responsibilities and public financing. The government will play a leading role in providing public health services and basic health services. The central government and local governments have to increase their health inputs.
Secondly, to develop urban and rural community health systems. A 3-tier rural health delivery system will be set up, with county hospitals as the frontrunners, township health centers as backbones and village clinics as base. New type of urban health service centered on community health delivery system will be built up and improved. Current urban health resources will be integrated to ensure the first visit in community health centers, stratified visits to different health facilities and two-way referral.
Thirdly, to reform hospital management and operational system. Hospitals will be regulated by local health authorities as a whole. All health facilities, no matter of what ownerships, financing models, business types, should be managed and regulated by local health authorities with uniform planning and entrance requirements.
Fourthly, to develop a multi-level health insurance system. By the end of 2008, the new Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) will cover all rural population. By the end of 2010, basic medical insurance for urban employees (BMI) will cover all urban employees and social medical insurance (SMI) will be fully promoted among the city dwellers.
Fifthly, to establish a essential drug system. The central government will make a national list on essential drugs. A essential drug manufacture and delivery system will be established. Tendering and contracted manufacture or centralized procurement and direct distribution will be applied to ensure the production and delivery of essential drugs and standard usage of essential drugs. Drug storage system will be improved to ensure people’s access to essential drugs.
Sixthly, to strengthen development of human resources. Training, delivery and absorbance of health professionals and nurses in public health, rural health and urban community health should be emphasized. The working environment of health professionals should be improved, and a harmonious doctor-patient relationship will be constructed.