Interpretation of the 2016 Government Work Report: Healthcare—Pilot Programs for Hierarchical Diagnosis and Treatment Can Urgently Address the Public’s Difficulty in Accessing Medical Care.

　　The “2016 Government Work Report” (hereinafter referred to as the “Government Work Report”) points out that we should “coordinate and advance the integrated reform of medical care, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals. Health is the foundation of happiness. This year, we will achieve full coverage of critical illness insurance, with the government increasing its investment to alleviate the financial burden on more patients suffering from serious diseases. The central government has allocated 16 billion yuan in subsidies for urban and rural medical assistance, representing a 9.6% increase. We will integrate the basic medical insurance systems for urban and rural residents, raising the fiscal subsidy per person from 380 yuan to 420 yuan annually. We will reform medical insurance payment methods, accelerate the nationwide networking of basic medical insurance, and streamline cross-regional medical expense settlements. We will expand the scope of pilot cities for comprehensive reforms of public hospitals and promote coordinated reforms in areas such as medical service prices and pharmaceutical distribution. We will deepen reforms of the drug and medical device review and approval system. We will speed up the training of general practitioners and pediatricians. Pilot programs for tiered diagnosis and treatment will be launched in approximately 70% of prefectural-level cities. The fiscal subsidy for basic public health services will be raised from 40 yuan to 45 yuan per capita, thereby promoting the flow of medical resources toward grassroots and rural areas. We will encourage private-sector participation in healthcare provision.”

　　Xie Zilong, a deputy to the National People's Congress and Chairman of Hunan Laobaixing Pharmacy, believes that this year’s “Government Work Report” proposal to “launch pilot programs for tiered diagnosis and treatment in about 70% of prefecture-level cities” is highly necessary—and represents an urgent priority for addressing the current challenges Chinese citizens face when seeking medical care.

　　“Large hospitals are overcrowded, while grassroots community hospitals are virtually empty. People have to travel to the provincial capital or even to ‘Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou’ just to see a doctor. This irrational situation must be changed,” Xie Zilong told the First Finance Daily. “Establishing a scientific and orderly tiered medical care system means categorizing patients based on factors such as disease severity, geographic distribution, patient needs, and economic conditions, so that urban and rural residents can all enjoy equally high-quality medical services.”

　　He suggested that, in line with international practice, government health authorities should prohibit all non-profit secondary hospitals and all non-profit tertiary hospitals from setting up general outpatient clinics. Secondary hospitals should offer only specialist outpatient clinics and emergency outpatient clinics, while tertiary hospitals should provide only outpatient clinics for complex and rare diseases as well as emergency and critical-care clinics.

　　Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Qizheng Tibetan Medicine, told the First Finance Daily that this morning’s “Government Work Report,” which emphasized “developing traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicine,” will further and sustainably boost the development of ethnic medicines.

　　Lei Jufang stated that clinical practice has demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicines have played a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of modern diseases—including SARS treatment, orthopedic and trauma conditions, and gynecological disorders. These medicines have positively contributed to improving treatment outcomes, reducing postoperative complications, and minimizing adverse reactions. Moreover, they have provided significant impetus to the health and well-being of local populations in ethnic regions as well as to the local economy. The emphasis on strengthening grassroots-level healthcare, as highlighted in the government work report, represents precisely the “main battlefield” for ethnic medicines and traditional Chinese medicine at this stage. Given that common diseases are prevalent at the grassroots level and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques tend to be relatively weaker there, traditional medicines enjoy a stronger foundation of acceptance and broader prospects for application at the grassroots. With supportive policies at the national level, both traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicines will be better positioned for long-term development, enabling the public to access medical care that is simple, easy to use, clinically effective, and economically affordable.

　　Reporting Media: Yicai.com – First Finance Daily

　　Report link: http://www.yicai.com/news/2016/03/4757790.html