China subsidizes over 69 mln people in accessing basic medical insurance in Q1

BEIJING -- China's healthcare security authorities have subsidized 69.33 million people to incorporate them into the country's basic medical insurance scheme during the first quarter of this year.

To relieve the burden of medical bills on people with financial difficulties, medical insurance authorities have carried out basic medical insurance, major disease insurance, and medical assistance programs among them, said Chen Jinfu, deputy head of the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA), at a press conference Friday.

As part of the efforts to improve medical insurance services, the medical expenses of nearly 35 million patients incurred outside of their home provinces had been directly settled by the end of May, Chen said.

The NHSA has also instructed localities to explore and build long-term mechanisms to prevent disease-induced poverty, and implement dynamic monitoring, prompt early warning and targeted relief efforts.