The message that the free healthcare enjoyed by civil servants will be incorporated into the general employees' medical insurance system is the first step in reform of public welfare.

The medical costs of all 450,000 of the civil servants in the Beijing municipal government and its affiliated county and district governments have already been merged into employees' medical insurance since Jan 1, and the change will be extended to civil servants in the central government next year.

The move shows the authority's determination and courage to kick-start a reform that may not be to its own benefit, and the public is looking forward to seeing more local authorities at various levels following its lead.