At the end of March the State Council released a lengthy document outlining the five year plans for various sectors. For health, the only thing that really made the headlines was the announcement that China would double the number of doctors between now and 2020 (actually I don’t think they actually said this – they meant they would try increase the number of available doctors per thousand population).
Anyway, here is a more in-depth look at what’s in store for health, according to the State Council. The main section on health was relegated to part 41:
The overall aim is to to speed up reform and improvements in the basic healthcare system by:
1. Improve basic medical insurance cover for urban and rural residents by increasing subsidies increased from 320 yuan to 380 yuan per person per year,
2. Introduce direct billing of medical expenses.
3. Further develop primary health care by strengthening general practitioner system,
Extend reform of county-level public hospitals,
4. De-link drug profits from doctors’ income and reduce drug prices.
5. Increase fees for medical services paid make up for drug price curbs.
6. Encourage doctors to work in community clinics instead of hospitals
7. Accelerate the setting up of medical dispute resolution mechanisms prevention.
8. Increase funding for basic public health services
9. Pay rises for rural doctors
10. Strengthen the prevention and control of major diseases.
11. Promote use of Chinese Traditional Medicine.