Output of China's medicine industry would increase by 20 percent in 2009, a senior legislator has said.

The output figure is expected to hit one trillion yuan (146 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009 despite the severe domestic macroeconomic situation,Sang Guowei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, told a biological industry forum on Friday.

He attributed the increase to a strong demand from the market, and the implementation of the health-care system reform which aims to ensure fair and affordable health services for all 1.3 billion Chinese citizens.

The industry would also be boosted by the country's policies to stimulate biological industry, Sang added.

The State Council, China's cabinet, has unveiled measures that aimed to foster bio-industry as a pillar high-tech industry.

In the first four months, China's medicince industry saw output increase by 18.29 percent over the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2009)