Li calls for affordable medicines for cancer

Premier Li Keqiang again urged more efforts to improve patients' access to costly cancer treatments after a hit movie drew people's attention to the dilemma faced by patients.

"The fact that patients with cancer and other serious diseases can't afford, have no access to or cannot wait to buy imported 'lifesaving drugs' highlights the urgency of reducing drug prices and ensuring supply," Li said in a written instruction in response to heated public discussion following the screening of Dying to Survive.

Government departments must hurry to carry out related measures decided by the State Council, China's Cabinet, speeding up the process if possible, he said.