The new medical system will help farmers alleviate poverty, which is often caused by serious disease, and ensure they can get medical assistance should they wish to. It is a voluntary system for farmers.

The fee for farmers to join the cooperative medical care for serious disease is 1 percent of their disposable personal income from the previous year. At least 15 yuan should be paid by individuals in plain zones and at least 10 yuan should be paid in mountainous areas at the initial stages of the medical system. Villages should use 2 percent of their income to help farmers to pay their medical insurance and they will have to pay at least five yuan for each farmer at the initial stage. Local financial departments should give financial aid to the cooperative rural medical system according to their agricultural population from 2003.

Members of the cooperative medical care for serious diseases should go to the appointed hospitals to receive medical treatment. Members of the cooperative medical care for serious diseases could receive free annual routine examinations if they do not ask for reimbursement of their medical treatment from relevant departments. Health files will be set up for each medical care member.

(China Daily July 23, 2003)