BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for more medical reform measures to overcome difficulties in the healthcare system.

His remarks were a written instruction presented to a meeting on medical and healthcare system reform on Wednesday.

The instruction identified the key areas that needed attention, such as hospitals should be prevented from being "financed by drug sales", the medical insurance payment system must be improved, private entities should be encouraged to set up healthcare businesses, and a multi-tiered diagnosis and treatment system for patients should be established.

He also said more effort should be given to reform of county-level hospitals and more serious diseases needed to be covered by medical insurance.

At the meeting, Vice Premier Liu Yandong said medical reform was at a difficult and crucial stage and all departments should work together to ensure its success.

Reform measures have been rolled out across all county-level hospitals and the city-level hospital pilot scheme would be increased to 100, she said.

She stressed strict regulation on the prices of medicines to reduce the burden on patients.