China reviews draft medical insurance law
On Tuesday, Chinese lawmakers began reviewing a draft medical insurance law aimed at further protecting the rights and interests of insured persons. Health is the foundation of quality of life, and accessible, equitable healthcare is one of the key indicators of social justice in any society.
China, having built one of the world's largest healthcare systems, is now taking the next step: transforming medical insurance from a collection of disparate programmes into a unified legal framework protected by law. The new draft law is designed not only to streamline existing mechanisms but also to guarantee every citizen, regardless of employment or income, the right to medical care. This is a significant step towards creating a fairer and more sustainable society, where health ceases to be a privilege and becomes a protected right.
The draft is currently in its third reading at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, which will run until Friday. According to the draft, China will establish a multi level medical insurance system, with basic medical insurance as its foundation, supplemented by other forms of protection such as critical illness insurance.
China's basic medical insurance has two main schemes. One scheme for formally employed workers is relatively well funded, while the scheme for informal sector workers relies on government subsidies and faces greater pressure. During the review, particular attention is being paid to improving financial coordination between the two schemes. "If the draft is adopted, it will help China move towards fairer and more unified medical insurance. It will also clarify the institutional framework and implement the principle of fairness and unity. This is an important signal about the future direction of the country's medical insurance system," said Zheng Gongcheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress.
The review addresses obstacles for flexible workers and calls for clearer rules for their registration in the employee medical insurance programme. It also aims to assist people facing financial difficulties and offers financial support to those in extreme hardship. "We are also proposing financial assistance for vulnerable groups, including people facing extreme difficulties, low income families and those at risk of falling back into poverty, helping them cover contributions to the resident medical insurance programme," said Zheng.
This law marks China's first attempt to regulate medical insurance through dedicated legislation. Previously, the medical insurance system in China was primarily governed by administrative regulations and local rules, leading to regional disparities and unequal access to healthcare. The new law will create a unified legal framework defining the rights and obligations of insured persons, healthcare providers and the state. Particular attention is paid to the financial sustainability of the system, coordination between different insurance schemes and support for the most vulnerable groups. The law is expected to be adopted shortly and to take effect at the start of the new fiscal year.
As CCTV+ reports, the review of the draft medical insurance law marks an important step in the development of China's social sector. The transition from administrative measures to legislative regulation guarantees more stable and predictable protection of citizens' rights. In the coming years, the new medical insurance system will become the foundation for strengthening the nation's health and reducing the financial burden on families, especially among vulnerable groups.
