Healthcare reform tasks laid out for H2

The General Office of the State Council issued a circular on July 23 laying out key tasks for reform of medical and health system in the second half of 2020.

According to the circular, efforts should be intensified in building a public health system, especially the monitoring and early warning system for infectious diseases. COVID-19 prevention and control should also be in place well in advance of the coming autumn and winter.

The Healthy China strategy should be further carried out, and prevention and treatment of chronic, infectious, endemic and occupational diseases should be improved, the circular read.

Meanwhile, comprehensive reforms of public hospitals must be deepened, with performance assessment mechanisms improved.

The basic medical insurance system should be further reformed as well, the circular read, adding government subsidies for basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents will be increased by 30 yuan per person.

In addition, the circular stressed that medicine supply system should be improved, with priority on adequate supply and stable prices of drugs in demand.