China's State Council on Wednesday launched a pilot program to
ensure that more urban residents are covered by basic medical
insurance.
One or two provincial cities will be chosen to test the program,
according to the executive meeting of the State Council chaired by
Premier Wen Jiabao.
All people, including children, who are not covered by the basic
medical insurance for urban employees can be insured against
illness through this new basic urban residents medical
insurance.
The meeting stressed this pilot program will help speed up the
development of China's medicare services, a key concern for many
people.
The meeting also urged local governments to set reasonable
insurance fees and respect people's wills, while requiring them to
strengthen the supervision and administration of insurance funds
and ensure their safety.
Meanwhile, a draft regulation on the punishment of civil
servants was reviewed and ratified in principle at the meeting.
The regulation was passed to require civil servants to practice
a clean and frugal working style and faithfully fulfill their
obligations.
Participants at the meeting agreed on the need for the law.
The regulation sums up experience gained when punishing civil
servants in recent years, prescribes in details the principles,
jurisdiction, and procedure and also sets out how to lodge an
appeal, according to the meeting.
The regulation will be released by the State Council after
further amendments.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2007)