2011-02-27 14:16

BEIJING - China will increase investment in the country's medical insurance system and strive to enable medical service accessible to every citizen, Premier Wen said Sunday.

Wen made the remarks during an online chat with Internet users, which is jointly hosted by the central government website (www.gov.cn) and Xinhua News Agency website (www.news.cn).

Wen said China will increase annual government subsidies this year for insurance premiums to 200 yuan ($30.4) per person and inpatient medical fee reimbursement rates for urban residents and farmers will be increased to 70 percent.

The government will work on policies to ensure patients be reimbursed in special medical programs such as renal dialysis, he said.

More than 1.2 billion Chinese now have been covered by the country's medical insurance system.

More than 90 percent of rural population are already covered by government-sponsored health insurance, while in urban area, the figure is 89 percent.