The Beijing Health Bureau and the municipal Development and Reform Commission have issued a joint circular capping the maximum hospital charge for an x-ray at 80 yuan (US$10 ), besides the film fee.

Beijing Morning Post reports patients used to have to pay 142 yuan (about US$18) for an X-ray, in addition to a charge for film. The cost of having an x-ray will drop by 43 percent when the regulation takes effect.

Patients will also be exempt from paying the 50 yuan (US$6) computer tomography fee when they receive laser CT scans and magnetic resonance scans.

(CRI March 10, 2007)