Medical security funds to face stricter regulation

The use of medical security funds is expected to be more strictly regulated to ensure the safety of public money for hospital care, an official from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress announced on Friday.

Huang Haihua, spokesman for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, highlighted the importance of the medical security fund at a news conference, calling it "the people's health fund — their lifeline in times of illness."

To guarantee the responsible and regulated use of these funds, a draft law proposes that healthcare security authorities under the State Council, China's Cabinet, consult not only with relevant government agencies but also with medical institutions, drug suppliers, businesses, experts, and insured individuals when defining basic medical insurance coverage and conducting economic evaluations.

"Gathering a broader range of opinions will make the management of the fund more scientific and democratic," Huang said.

This draft law on healthcare security will be submitted for review at a session of the NPC Standing Committee, which is scheduled to be held in Beijing from Tuesday to Friday.

The draft also includes provisions for establishing a centralized procurement system for drugs and medical supplies, adopting diverse and combined payment methods for medical insurance, and improving direct settlement services for cross-regional medical care, Huang added.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn