Chinese citizens up for debate over healthcare reform

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-15 20:45

BEIJING - China's new healthcare reform plan, which aims to provide universal medical service to 1.3 billion people, has triggered nationwide debate since it was publicized on Tuesday morning.

News articles on healthcare reform showed up in major newspapers and online forums were swarmed with netizens eager to express their opinion.

More than 900 comments were left on the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) website in less than two days.

Suggestions, complaints and criticisms kept pouring into the site, which the Chinese authorities set up to solicit opinions on the long-awaited reform plan.

"I suggest leaders pay more attention to medical services in rural areas," Cao Pengfei wrote. "It would cost more than a 1,000 yuan (US$146) for a minor illness in my county," added the Shandong Province resident.

"I have no stable job and travel from place to place for work. I was wondering how people like me could be covered by medical insurance?" Ma Shengcheng asked.

Many proposed long lists of suggestions. Xia Shaochun wrote thousands of words, analyzing the problems of the current insurance system and government funding.

Opinions of health experts were seen in newspapers and magazines. Besides commenting on the plan itself, many agreed the government had taken an unprecedented open attitude towards the reform.

Healthcare reform expert Gu Xin told the China Youth Daily that scholars in the past were often asked to prove the validity and thinking behind a government decision after it was made.

"But as for the healthcare reform plan, scholars really participated in it," he said. "The government asked for our opinions and paid great attention before the plan was drafted."

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