Medical reforms should include privatized basic care

Further reforms of China's medical system should include privatizing basic medical care, a report said.

In establishing a multi-tiered diagnosis and treatment system, privatizing basic health care and management are suggested, a report by the Research Center for Insurance & Economic Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Shanghai said.

"Medical reforms cannot be successful without prime social resources, capital and medical care," said Fu Chen, from the medical reform department of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

A well-established system should include first-class public hospitals and first-class private-owned hospitals as well, said Fu.

Shanghai is to trial a multi-tiered diagnosis and treatment system in selected communities within the year, according to Liu Hongwei, from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

Premier Li Keqiang has called for more medical reforms to overcome difficulties in the healthcare system. For example, hospitals should be prevented from being "financed by drug sales". The medical insurance payment system must be improved, private entities should be encouraged to set up healthcare businesses and a multi-tiered diagnosis and treatment system for patients should be established, China Daily reported in April.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn