China says it has built the world’s largest healthcare system, with over 90 percent of households able to reach a medical facility within 15 minutes and basic medical insurance covering about 95 percent of the population, according to the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Authorities are now focusing on improving quality and reducing costs through digital tools and procurement reforms led by the National Healthcare Security Administration.
A key reform has been the centralized volume-based procurement program launched in 2018, which has sharply lowered prices for drugs and high-value medical consumables. Nine rounds of national drug procurement have covered 374 medicines, while the price of coronary stents has fallen by more than 90 percent. A new policy also allows designated retail pharmacies to offer the same insurance reimbursement terms as clinics, reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
Efforts to narrow regional gaps include cross-regional hospital partnerships, such as cooperation between Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and local hospitals in Anhui, enabling patients to access specialist care closer to home. Nationwide direct settlement of cross-province medical bills and digital services, including online drug price comparison and cloud-based medical imaging sharing, are further streamlining access. Since 2021, the national medical insurance fund has spent more than 12 trillion yuan, supporting both patient protection and healthcare modernization.
Credit : CGTN
You can listen to the programs organized by MI Radio on Google Podcast, Apple Podcast and Spotify.
You can download MI Radio application on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
