US$4.6b boost for public health
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
May 25, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA is to pump US$4.6 billion into expanding public health services this year, including free vaccinations and routine checkups for children under six.
The Ministry of Health said yesterday that the funds will be used to upgrade health programs and services and it raised the age limit for children to receive 13 free health services from 3 to 6.
These include growth evaluation and guidance for children's growth.
The ministry said free services such as comprehensive physical examinations will also be available to pregnant women and people over 65.
The move is part of the country's US$124 billion effort to reform the health system over three years in a program which began in April 2009.
Public health care in China has been underfunded for years and the high cost of and poor access to health services are among the public's biggest complaints.
Qin Huaijin, director of the Women/Children Health and Community Health Department under the ministry, told a press conference that the funds will be used to upgrade 10 programs and offer more free health services.
Pregnant women can have a total of five visits for free health care services prior to delivery, which includes a comprehensive physical examination consisting of a gynecological examination and blood and urine tests.
Individuals over 65 are eligible for one free health care visit each year, which includes a health assessment and a comprehensive physical examination.
Qin said the basic health care services would benefit everyone, including migrant workers and their families.
The funds will also be used to improve food safety monitoring systems at grassroots medical institutions in communities, villages and towns, which will be charged with reporting food-related health incidents to the authorities immediately.
"To report food safety information will be a major duty of grassroots medical institutions because they have more contact with everyday people," Qin said.
The government will also increase per capita funding for basic health services from 15 yuan to 25 yuan this year.
The Ministry of Health said yesterday that the funds will be used to upgrade health programs and services and it raised the age limit for children to receive 13 free health services from 3 to 6.
These include growth evaluation and guidance for children's growth.
The ministry said free services such as comprehensive physical examinations will also be available to pregnant women and people over 65.
The move is part of the country's US$124 billion effort to reform the health system over three years in a program which began in April 2009.
Public health care in China has been underfunded for years and the high cost of and poor access to health services are among the public's biggest complaints.
Qin Huaijin, director of the Women/Children Health and Community Health Department under the ministry, told a press conference that the funds will be used to upgrade 10 programs and offer more free health services.
Pregnant women can have a total of five visits for free health care services prior to delivery, which includes a comprehensive physical examination consisting of a gynecological examination and blood and urine tests.
Individuals over 65 are eligible for one free health care visit each year, which includes a health assessment and a comprehensive physical examination.
Qin said the basic health care services would benefit everyone, including migrant workers and their families.
The funds will also be used to improve food safety monitoring systems at grassroots medical institutions in communities, villages and towns, which will be charged with reporting food-related health incidents to the authorities immediately.
"To report food safety information will be a major duty of grassroots medical institutions because they have more contact with everyday people," Qin said.
The government will also increase per capita funding for basic health services from 15 yuan to 25 yuan this year.
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