China to combine maternity insurance, basic medical insurance for employees

BEIJING -- The State Council General Office has issued a document on the combination of funds and management resources for maternity insurance and basic medical insurance in a bid to improve management efficiency and reduce operation costs.

The move is also aimed at establishing an institutional system that adapts to China's economic development and optimizes insurance management resources, according to the document.

The collection and management of funds, as well as the medical service management, will be unified, it said.

Relevant authorities should raise risk prevention awareness, reasonably guide expectations, improve maternity insurance monitoring indicators, and establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism based on maternity insurance and expenditure needs, the document said.

The integration should be completed by the end of this year, it added.