"When it comes out, it will set the tone and set the direction of Chinese healthcare for years to come," Li said. "For many, many years, this will potentially be the one that will really form the basis of Chinese healthcare."

Ministry of Health spokesman Mao Qun'an said the ministry has been working actively to develop a plan to facilitate exchange between experts, members of the business community and the public.

"In this way, we can improve people's awareness about their own health," he said.

Li said that because of its power to shape the future landscape of Chinese healthcare, it is important for providers and the public to get involved in the process.

"It's great that the government actually wants to hear from us and they actually have gone out and issued this invitation for input," he said. "Here, really, is an opportunity to participate in something that is going to have a major impact on the society and on our businesses Like it or not, when it comes out, (healthcare) will be something that will really affect everyone's business."

One of the major considerations the government must make for both healthcare businesses and citizens is the amount of money it will invest in healthcare for its people.

WHO Representative Henk Bekedam said that the government currently spends less than 1 per cent of its GDP on healthcare, while most of the 6 per cent overall expenditures come from people's pockets and insurance.

He said that according to research conducted by the WHO in co-ordination with the Ministry of Health, it would only cost China 1 per cent more of its GDP to ensure that everyone would have access to at least essential services.

However, he pointed out that accessibility and affordability are two different things.
"In the rural areas indeed, we need to move toward a compulsory way of moving forward to make sure everybody will have access," Bekedam said. "At this very moment, the rural schemes, they require cash. The poor do not have cash."

Bekedam pointed out that most of the current reimbursement schemes in rural areas only provide 30-40 per cent co-pay, which is not enough to make healthcare affordable for most rural citizens.

1

2

3

4

5

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)