The public should be consulted on the reform of the medical security system, says an article in China Business Times. The following is an excerpt:

The National Development and Reform Commission recently revealed on its website that a draft version of a plan to reform China's medical system had been drawn up. The commission wrote that it would further improve the plan and present it to the State Council for final approval by the end of the year.

While the World Health Organization, as well as many universities and overseas institutions have helped with the draft, it has not yet been released to the public here. There is no procedure for public participation in the process, even though it involves an issue that affects the lives of the Chinese people. The government departments concerned have also remained silent.

The public opinion should be considered since the reform plan concerns public services. Public participation should be a key part of the decision-making in any modern society. But in this case, the public has no way of knowing the specific content of or the differences between the eight draft plans that have been submitted by different organizations.

Public participation in administrative decision-making may increase administrative costs. But looked at from another angle, public participation will bring any reform moves in line with the public will. It will also lead to more efficiency and a better foundation for the implementation of policies.

Without democratic participation in administrative decision-making, implementation will suffer. It is improper to make a medical reform plan without soliciting public opinions.

(China Daily August 28, 2007)