Minister: Healthcare network to cover all

In recent years, the government has promoted a rural system guided and supported by it but with volunteers working on its administration, as well as also financed by individuals and collectives. The new system focuses on serious disease planning and mutual aid and fraternity between rural residents.

A Ministry of Health report last week showed about 1 billion Chinese - from a population of 1.3 billion - were covered by some sort of health insurance by the end of 2008, including 814 million rural residents.

In an attempt to improve the country's medical services, especially those at the grassroots level, China will build another 5,000 clinics at township level, 2,000 hospitals at county level and 2,400 urban community clinics in three years, the minister said.

At the same time, China will also increase spending on public health to enhance prevention and education.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show China's financial burden through healthcare reached 2.36 trillion yuan in 2005, two thirds of which were down to cases involving chronic diseases.

Editor:Liu Anqi