Effective governance holds key to ensuring people's health

BEIJING, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on China's health insurance system:

The recently released comedy-drama "Dying to Survive" has caused quite a stir across China. In the movie, a peddler of Indian god oils accidentally becomes the exclusive agent for a generic version of a costly drug used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The story unfolds with the law and humanity inextricably woven together. The hero of the movie is called "a god of drugs" by CML patients, but in reality, in the face of disease, nobody has the power of a god. While a good-hearted person does deserve respect, it is effective governance that truly holds the key to people's health.

As a matter of fact, thanks to the government's efforts, the cost of the imported drug mentioned in the movie is now covered by health insurance in 19 provincial regions. In addition, earlier this year, China decided to remove tariffs on imported drugs, accelerate domestic approvals of drugs recently approved in overseas markets, improve the monitoring of drugs prone to short supply, and increase storage to better guarantee drug supplies. All of these measures are aimed at the same goal – to make the health of the people the top priority.

Responding to heated public debate about the movie, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for the government to move faster to reduce the price and ensure the supply of anti-cancer drugs.

When it comes to providing affordable healthcare services, in addition to selling medicines at lower prices, more attention must be given to the essential role of the health insurance system. China has made notable progress over the past 10 years. Previously, only 30 percent of the country's population was covered by insurance plans, forcing many people, particularly in rural areas, to stay home and suffer the pain caused by illnesses because they couldn't afford the cost of medical care. Now, however, more than 1.3 billion people enjoy basic insurance coverage.

China's health insurance system, which now covers almost the entire population of the country, has been applauded in some media reports as the "largest social welfare plan in the history of mankind." China is a developing country, and with the largest population in the world, it hasn't finished fighting its battle against poverty. The Chinese government needs the courage to launch even more reform plans. As it is well-known, such reforms will alter the existing interests' distribution pattern. It is easy to fail if the focus is put on debating how to balance the interests and satisfy every single demand. Luckily, China has underlined the most underdeveloped group in this process, delivering a stronger sense of security, of gain, and of happiness to the Chinese people.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Effective governance holds key to ensuring people's health
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2018-07/26/content_57827152.htm

About China.org.cn

Founded in 2000, China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn/China.com.cn) is a key state news website under the auspices of the State Council Information Office, and is managed by China International Publishing Group. We provide round-the-clock news service in ten languages. With users from more than 200 countries and regions, we have become China's leading multi-lingual news outlet introducing the country to the outside world.

We are one of the country's authoritative outlets for government press releases and are authorized to cover various major events. "Live Webcast" is our online webcasting service to present State Council Information Office press conferences in both Chinese and English languages. We are reputed for timely and accurate delivery of news and information, and wide interactions with audiences. In addition, we are authorized to publish and live broadcast major events and press conferences of ministries, local government agencies and institutions as well as enterprises.

In the era of mobile internet, we endeavor to create an array of products for mobile devices headed by the multilingual WAP platform and the mobile APP. We also use Chinese and international social media to publish information for different user groups.

In the future, CIIC will continue to offer authoritative information about China, tell China's stories, voice China's opinions, and introduce a vivid, panoramic and multicultural China to the world through multi-language, multi-media and multi-platforms.

SOURCE China.org.cn

Related Links

http://China.org.cn