Programme helps four million get health care

BEIJING: A national programme to aid impoverished villagers affected by serious diseases has benefited more than 4.2 million people, according to data released by a leading health authority.

Over 4.9 million rural families left in dire straits due to crippling medical expenses were lifted out of poverty as of October, 46% of the total number, data from the State Council Medical Reform Office shows.

The programme, launched in June 2016, targets villagers registered with local authorities as surviving on just US$1 (RM3.92) a day and provides preferential medical insurance policies and other relief measures.

On average, those eligible for the programme paid only 19% of their medical bills last year, compared with 43% in 2016, Wang Hesheng, head of the office and vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Monday.

Of the 4.2 million patients who benefited, 420,000 were cured as a result of the assistance they received, according to Liu Kui, the commission’s deputy director of finance.

“The programme is aimed at ensuring basic medical care for the impoverished rural population and basic life needs of someone affected by a major disease,” he said.

Serious diseases including stomach cancer, terminal kidney disease and child leukemia are covered by the programme.

Losing the ability to work and high medical bills are among the leading causes of poverty in China.