In a significant move to improve healthcare accessibility, China has announced an expansion of its basic medical insurance scheme. During a recent conference on medical insurance work, officials revealed plans to enrich the medical insurance drug catalog, increase centralized medicine procurement, and incorporate more medical services into the plan.
As of November, the basic medical insurance fund reported a total income of 3.11 trillion yuan (approximately $427 billion) and a total expenditure of 2.63 trillion yuan, leaving a current balance of 459.1 billion yuan for 2024. These figures highlight the steady operation of China's medical insurance fund, ensuring sufficient resources to cover the medical expenses of insured individuals.
One of the key developments is the addition of 91 new drugs to the national medical insurance drug catalog, bringing the total to 3,159. Additionally, the latest round of centralized procurement has successfully reduced the prices of 62 more medicines, making treatments more affordable for Chinese patients.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, the scope of medical insurance reimbursement has been broadened to include assisted reproduction services. This enhancement has already benefited over a million people this year, providing greater support for families seeking assisted reproductive technologies.
The number of medical institutions and pharmacies supporting direct settlement of medical expenses across different localities has surged to 640,000 nationwide, serving 213 million insured individuals as of November. This marks an impressive 87.98 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, reflecting improved accessibility and convenience for patients.
Additionally, a nationwide campaign to combat medical insurance-related fraud has proven effective, with authorities recovering a total of 24.23 billion yuan from January to November 2024. This effort underscores the commitment to maintaining the integrity and sustainability of the medical insurance system.
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China expands medical insurance, boosts accessibility and coverage
cgtn.com
