Sensible healthcare

Desirable results do not necessarily come from good intentions alone. It is particularly so with the complicated reform of healthcare service. The embarrassing situation a county government faces after the implementation of its new medical bill reimbursement program in March is a case in point.

The program, launched by the county government of Shenmu, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, stipulates that all its citizens, both rural and urban, can have their medical expenses reimbursed if they spend more than 200 yuan in township clinics, 400 yuan in county-level hospitals and 3,000 yuan in hospitals outside the county.

The county ranks first in economic performance among all counties in the province. With per capita gross domestic product of 68,700 yuan ($10,000), the county government believes that its finance is strong enough to support such a program.