Some 68 million Chinese farmers have benefited from a new rural
cooperative medical program since last July.
Vice Health Minister Zhu Qingsheng made the announcement Friday
in Beijing.
The cooperative program aims to provide financial help for
impoverished farmers with serious illnesses. The bill for their
treatment will be mainly covered by the central and local
government as well as farmer's tax payment.
By now, the Chinese government has collected more than three
billion yuan, or about US$360 million, for the program.
The minister says Chinese government will input more capital in
rural medical service. The cooperative medical system is expected
to cover all the rural areas in the nation by 2010.
(CRI November 5, 2004)