Backgrounder: Chronology of China´s health-care reform

Source: Xinhua | 04-07-2009 11:13

BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday unveiled a blueprint on health-care over the next decade, starting the long-awaited reform to ensure fair and affordable health services for all 1.3 billion citizens.

The major goal of the reform until 2020 is to build a basic health-care system that can provide "safe, effective, convenient and affordable" health services to urban and rural residents, according to the blueprint, endorsed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, or China's Cabinet.

As the world's most populous country, China has been making continuous efforts over the past 60 years to reinforce its public health network.

But unbalanced development in urban and rural areas, weak health-care facilities at grassroots level, low government funding and soaring medical bills have caused increasing complaints and made reform an urgent issue.

Following are some major events in the development and reform of China's health-care system.

Post 1949 -- After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, governments cover more than 90 percent of medical expenses for urban residents.