China's public hospitals rein in unreasonable pricing

BEIJING - Public hospitals in China have reined in the unreasonable pricing of medical care, an official of the National Health Commission said on May 11.

"All public hospitals across the country joined the comprehensive reform program in 2017 to end 60-odd years of drug price markups," Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the commission, said at a State Council press conference on implementing major policies.

Wang said the General Office of the State Council praised 38 localities, including Xicheng District in Beijing and Sanming of east China's Fujian province, for their good practices in the comprehensive reform of public hospitals.

"Sanming increased fiscal input to public hospitals from 140 million yuan ($22 million) in 2011 to 460 million yuan in 2017. The hospitals in this city have made medical care prices more rational," Wang said.

Health care authorities will encourage public hospitals to participate in the establishment of medical treatment partnerships and guide medical resources to grassroots health institutions to better serve the public, Wang said.