STORY: China works to provide more accessible healthcare services to rural residents
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: July 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:25
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China's healthcare services
2. various of Pingdingshan, Henan Province
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG FAN, Healthcare Security Administration of Pingdingshan
4. various of Pingdingshan, Henan Province
5. various of Yongtai County, Fujian Province
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XIE YALING, Health Bureau of Yongtai County
7. various of Xinhe County, Hebei Province
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FENG CHUNYU, Resident of Xinhe County
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinses): CAI WEIXIN, Beijing Tiantan Hospital

STORYLINE:

In recent years, China has undertaken substantial reforms in its healthcare system to improve medical accessibility across vast rural regions.

In Pingdingshan, Henan Province, medicines procured through the bulk purchase mechanism are distributed to grassroots medical institutions.

This ensures affordable access for local residents.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG FAN, Healthcare Security Administration of Pingdingshan
"Since our country began the bulk procurement program, the prices of medications used to treat a wide range of common, chronic, and serious diseases have markedly decreased. We have actively promoted the availability of these medicines in village clinics and community health service stations, ensuring that people can conveniently purchase high-quality and affordable medications right at their doorsteps."

Currently, Pingdingshan has supplied 2,562 grassroots medical institutions with these medicines, achieving an average price reduction of over 50 percent.

Professionals are undoubtedly crucial for channeling medical resources to the grassroots levels.

In Yongtai County, Fujian Province, doctors are stationed in villages through a township-hiring mechanism.

The initial group of 13 village doctors, certified as practicing (assistant) physicians, has begun serving health centers in mountainous areas.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XIE YALING, Health Bureau of Yongtai County
"We aim to attract, retain, and effectively utilize village doctors. We will recruit a significant number of young doctors, ensuring competitive payments. They will be managed by township health centers."

Efforts are also underway to bring quality medical resources from cities to villages through assistance programs.

Recently, medical experts from Beijing Tiantan Hospital provided free services in Xinhe County, Hebei Province.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FENG CHUNYU, Resident of Xinhe County
"(Experts from Beijing) have come to my hometown to provide free medical services. They are doing a wonderful job. We feel grateful and touched."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinses): CAI WEIXIN, Beijing Tiantan Hospital
"Based on the needs of the local people, experts from our hospital are using our high-quality medical resources to provide services to the people at grassroots level."

China has built the world's largest medical and health care systems. The country's basic medical insurance covers over 95 percent of the population.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)