Health Minister: Grass-roots health care should be enhanced

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-07-2009 13:53

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Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu says the guarantee system should be improved to ensure that rural residents can be further guaranteed coverage under the new medical reform. In an interview with CCTV, Chen Zhu also says the system and the capacity of grass-roots health care institutions should be enhanced.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu says the  guarantee system should be improved to ensure  that rural residents can be further guaranteed coverage under the new medical reform.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu said, "It involves two aspects. First, improving the guarantee system. The new rural cooperative medical system originally intended to ensure that rural residents can be treated when they suffer from severe illnesses. But China's health care service has been developing over the past few years. And rural residents now have greater demands for doctors. So the overall plan for clinics has become essential. Many diseases can be detected and treated at clinics. For instance, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes... can all be diagnosed and treated at rural health clinics. Secondly, we will enhance the system and boost the capacity of grass-roots health care institutions. That's one of the major focuses of this medical reform. We must continue to promote the building of standard rural health clinics, as well as improve the capacity of doctors and nurses at clinics."

Editor:Zhang Ning