Healthcare reform is meant to provide residents with an affordable, quality medical service, which explains why any central government policy on healthcare catches the attention of the public.

The latest State Council document on healthcare reform until the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15) proposes an explicit roadmap.

What is particularly noteworthy is that healthcare administrative departments at all levels will be required to tighten control over the rise in medical costs, including the cost of hospitalization and the proportion of drug costs within the total bill for treatment.