China to Build 2,000 County-Level Hospitals: Health Care Plan

China is to build some 2,000 county-level hospitals to ensure each county would have at least one hospital in compliance with national standards, according to a three-year action plan on health care reform released Tuesday.

Under the 850 billion yuan (124 billion U.S. dollar) plan for 2009 to 2011, the central government will fund the construction of 29,000 township hospitals this year and upgrading of 5,000 township hospitals.

The government will also finance the construction of village clinics in remote areas so that every village will have a clinic in the next three years.

In addition, 3,700 community health centers and 11,000 community health stations would be set up or upgraded in cities.

As part of the effort, the health insurance subsidy offered by the government for unemployed urban residents and farmers will rise by 50 percent to 120 yuan per person as of next year.

China expects the plan lays a solid foundation for equitable and universal access to essential health care for all in China.