The Chinese government will spend more than 3 billion yuan (US$360 million) to buy medical equipment from Chinese and overseas medical equipment makers and related businesses in 2005, an official in charge of planning and finance in the Chinese Ministry of Health said Friday.
  
The official said China will continue to support the development of public health, including in rural areas.
  
He said that major areas that need strong government support include the construction of the public health system, the health law enforcement and supervision system, public health in rural areas and the prevention and control of serious diseases.
  
Medical equipment and other related items to be procured by the ministry include emergency and testing equipment for grass-root medical organizations, special-purpose vehicles for law enforcement and supervision departments in China's western and central areas, HIV laboratory equipment and reagents, anti-virus and anti-TB medicine and other medicine and equipment.
  
According to the official, the appraisal and selection of all equipment on the government procurement list will be completed at the 14th China International Medical Equipment and Facilities Exposition and Symposia (China-HOSPEC) to be held in Beijing from September 7 to 10.
  
More than 400 Chinese and overseas businesses gathered in Beijing last year to compete for a share of more than two billion yuan (US$240 million), the amount the Chinese government allocated to buy medical equipment in 2004.

In 2003, the ministry spent more than 800 million yuan (US$96.4 million).

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2005)