Beijing municipal government is about to implement a new
cooperative rural medical system, which will focus mainly on
cooperative medical care for serious diseases. The Regulations of
Beijing on Establishing New Cooperative Rural Medical System, which
has been formulated by the Beijing Municipal Economic Restructuring
Office and Beijing Bureau of Health, will be issued and implemented
soon.
The new medical system will help farmers alleviate poverty,
which is often caused by serious disease, and ensure they can get
medical assistance should they wish to. It is a voluntary system
for farmers.
The fee for farmers to join the cooperative medical care for
serious disease is 1 percent of their disposable personal income
from the previous year. At least 15 yuan should be paid by
individuals in plain zones and at least 10 yuan should be paid in
mountainous areas at the initial stages of the medical system.
Villages should use 2 percent of their income to help farmers to
pay their medical insurance and they will have to pay at least five
yuan for each farmer at the initial stage. Local financial
departments should give financial aid to the cooperative rural
medical system according to their agricultural population from
2003.
Members of the cooperative medical care for serious diseases
should go to the appointed hospitals to receive medical treatment.
Members of the cooperative medical care for serious diseases could
receive free annual routine examinations if they do not ask for
reimbursement of their medical treatment from relevant departments.
Health files will be set up for each medical care member.
(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan July 20, 2003)?