China's Ministry of Health (MOH) said Tuesday that it is impossible for China to create an exact imitation of another country's health system as it bids to reform its own failing health service.

"Chinese health care experts have conducted comparative studies on the medical systems in different countries," Mao Qun'an, the ministry's spokesman said at a press conference.

"Such studies, however, will not lead to mechanical imitations of other systems," Mao noted.

The State Council set up a task force to coordinate efforts among 11 ministries to map out a reform plan for the country's medical system in September this year.

The plan will be released no later than early next year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

A heated debate has raged in China in recent months over which country's health service model China's reforms should be based upon. Many Chinese experts favor Britain's publicly funded National Health Service.

The NDRC has dedicated a section on its website to soliciting opinions from Chinese people on the reforms. The opinions will be collected and be taken into consideration when the reform plan is formulated.

China's health care sector has been under constant criticism over soaring costs and inaccessibility. The new system aims to guarantee universal and equal access to health care regardless of a citizen's ability to pay, according to the NDRC.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)