It is the government's duty to set up a medical security system that covers all citizens, says an article in China Business Times. An excerpt follows:

The reform of the medical system has become a focus of society at a time when an increasing number of people complain their medical fees are unaffordable.

Released documents show a package of reforms is now under way.

The goal of the new reforms is to cover 90 percent of the population, and pay for at least half of their medical expenditure. Also, the designed medical reform package will focus on rural populations.

Offering all people a sound medical security system is a basic condition for economic development and social stability. It is an unshirkable duty upon the government's shoulder.

In recent years, the price of medicines has been on the rise. A colossal group with vested interests has taken root in medical circles. Some medicine producers, salespeople and hospitals have colluded to raise prices to score exorbitant profits.

The reforms of the medical system will inevitably affect these people's vested interests, and thus undoubtedly will meet with resistance.

Also, due to outdated management systems within hospitals and complicated relations between them and relevant government departments, making hospitals non profit-orientated is a thorny issue.

More importantly, it poses a real challenge for the government to extend the medical welfare system to more than 90 per cent of the rural population.

Without timely medical reform, the country's economic development and social stability will be negatively influenced.

Different from other reforms, medical reforms are directly linked with the interests of all people. Ultimately, it will be the people who judge whether the reforms are successful.

(China Daily November 30, 2005)