Remedy for healthcare ills

Beijing launched its medical reform on Saturday, scrapping the previous markup on drugs, which could be as high as 15 percent in the old pricing system, and replacing the registration fee and treatment fee with a medical service charge.

The implementation of the capital's reform measures marks a substantial step toward long-anticipated reform of the country's long-controversial medical system.

Any reform always necessitates adjustments among the interests of different groups. And, according to media reports, some patients have applauded the considerable decline in medicine prices, believing the separation of medical services from medicine prices will bring tangible benefits to people, while others have complained about the higher medical service charge, claiming it a disguised price increase. The capital's hospitals have also shown mixed reactions to the cancellation of drug price markup.