All students in Beijing primary, middle and vocational schools can get free annual medical exams under a policy that began this month, the municipal education department announced on Friday.

The exam includes lab work and visual and dental check-ups.

Results will be filed in district education departments. The costs will be covered by public funds of district education budget.

Since 1985, China has carried out four national surveys of the health of young people, with findings suggesting that in the past two decades, the health of Chinese youth has worsened.

For example, the 2006 survey found that more than three quarters of senior high school students and 83 percent of college students were near-sighted.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)