Chinese to Live to Nearly 76 by 2015
The average life expectancy for the Chinese will reach 75.8 years by 2015, one year longer than the 2010 level, according to a health care development plan issued on Friday.
According to the 12th five-year plan for health care, a national medical and health system will be formed by 2015, allowing all Chinese to have access to basic public health care services. The plan also calls for substantially reducing the cost of doctor visits and enhancing the quality and efficiency of the medical service system, as well as boost public satisfaction with medical services and improve doctor-patient relations. The plan also calls for increasing the number of beds in non-public medical institutions to an amount equal to 20 percent of the total number of hospital beds in China.
To encourage more people to obtain medical insurance, China will raise annual subsidies for urban and rural residents from about 240 yuan (38 U.S. dollars) to 360 yuan by 2015, the plan says. The government will train another 150,000 general medical practitioners for local communities by the end of 2015, the plan says.
During the 12th five-year period, China will strive to develop non-public hospitals and medical institutions as well as consider social investment over government input. Enterprises, foundations and charities, as well as overseas investors, will be encouraged to run private clinics, according to the plan.
– Xinhua