Action on diabetes, hypertension drugs

Medicines received from outpatient departments to be covered by basic medical insurance scheme

The State Council has decided to expand the medical insurance scheme's coverage to include outpatient medicines for treating high blood pressure and diabetes in an effort to reduce the burden on patients.

In a statement released after an executive meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet said patients with hypertension and diabetes will be reimbursed for more than half of the cost of medicines they receive from hospital outpatient departments, as long as the medicines are included in the national basic medical insurance catalog.