Page 26 - REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT

medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents increased from 450
yuan to 610 yuan. A greater number of urgently needed medicines were approved

for reimbursement under the basic medical insurance scheme. On-the-spot
settlement of cross-provincial outpatient and inpatient medical bills was realized,
with over 57 million applications for settlement approved. We made bulk
government purchases of medicines and medical consumables, thus cutting

medical bills by more than 400 billion yuan. Thirteen national medical research
centers and 76 regional medical centers were opened.
Comprehensive reform of public hospitals was carried out across the board,
the capacity for providing medical and health services at the county level was

steadily increased, and the tiered diagnosis and treatment system was refined.
Elderly people and other groups enjoyed better medical services.
The preservation and innovative development of traditional Chinese medicine
was promoted for the benefit of our people. Annual per capita government
subsidies for basic public health services were increased from 50 yuan to 84 yuan.

Giving priority to prevention, we strengthened health management for major
chronic diseases. We reformed and improved the system for disease prevention
and control. The National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control was
inaugurated, and the systems for major epidemic prevention, control, and

treatment and for providing emergency supplies were improved. With these
efforts, we have protected the health of our people.
We improved social security and social services. A central regulation system
for basic old-age insurance funds was set up. We increased basic pension benefits

for retirees for many years running and raised the minimum basic old-age benefits
for rural and non-working urban residents. Urban and rural subsistence
allowances, benefits for entitled groups, unemployment insurance, and workers’
compensation were steadily increased.

We took proactive steps to address population aging and promoted
development of both elderly care programs and elderly care services. We
encouraged the development of community and at-home elderly care services,
with more supporting facilities and barrier-free facilities built by offering policy
support in terms of tax, rent, and charges for water, electricity, and natural gas.

Integrated medical and elderly care services were promoted, and trials for
long-term care insurance schemes were steadily advanced. The three-child policy
was launched, and supporting measures were put into effect.

25