Medical service prices

Cutting medical bills to make healthcare affordable for ordinary people is the aim of the current reform of healthcare system; as is the expectation of most people, especially low-income earners.

The national basic medicine system that was initiated in August this year was welcomed as a big step forward in cutting rising healthcare costs. Yet, the announcement by several central government departments on Monday that prices for services such as medical examinations or surgery will be raised has sent cold shivers down the spines of many people.

The thrust of the message of the document, jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, has been generally interpreted as "cutting the prices of drugs and raising those of medical service".