China's State Council, or Cabinet, issued on Wednesday an amended draft guideline of medical and health care system reform to solicit public opinion.

The draft guideline was discussed at a meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

Through the reform, the country aims to set up a basic health care service covering rural and urban residents in 2020, made up of public health service, medical service, stable supply of medicines and good management on hospitals, according to the meeting.

The government is working to reform the existing health care system that has benefited hospitals, drug makers and dealers but left many low-income earners complaining of high expense and lack of access to service.

The draft reform guideline was first publicized to solicit opinion in April.

The State Council amended it after meeting with representatives from all related parties, according to the meeting.

The meeting urged taking measures to expand the coverage of basic health care coverage, develop an essential medicine list and keep their prices under control, improve facilities and support the daily operation of grass-roots health and medical service, and improve the management of public hospitals.

According to a survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last year on "unsafe" factors upsetting the public, rising medical costs have become the top concern among Chinese people. The high costs usually result from expensive medicines.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2008)