Medical Reform

Beijing began a reform drive on April 8 that will separate drug sales from medical treatment at public hospitals and is aimed at lowering medical expenses and improving services.

Over 2,600 Beijing hospitals had switched to a new billing system, which replaced a registration and treatment fee with a higher medical service charge. On the other hand, it scrapped the previous markup on drugs, which was as high as 15 percent.

The reform applies to more than 3,600 medical institutions citywide, Gao Xiaojun, spokesperson with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, said.

Some 1,000 small village clinics are not yet equipped with the computerized billing system.

Changes in drug and medical test prices were also seen across 435 medical services offered at public hospitals and clinics.

The reform has reduced charges for tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging but increased charges for medical services needing a lot of experience, expertise or staff time.

The overall medical costs for Beijing residents will remain balanced and there will be no increased burden on patients, Fang Laiying, head of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, said.

“Separating treatment and drug sales will stop over-prescribing and ensure better treatment,” Fang added.

To ensure medicine prices are reduced, Beijing has mandated transparent drug purchases, choosing suppliers through open bidding and requiring the full disclosure of drug and producer information.

Community hospitals and medical institutions have been given the same access to medicines that were once to be prescribed only by highlevel hospitals.

More than 90 percent of Beijing’s hospitals have taken action to improve their services since the reform plan was published on March 22, Fang said.