Ministry of Health Says Mid-term Evaluation of Medical Reform Has Started to Introduce International Organizations

Medical reform will soon usher in the “three-year exam”. On the 15th, Minister of Health Chen Hao revealed that the mid-term evaluation of medical reform has started. Besides the domestic experts, the World Health Organization has also participated in the assessment.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Health held a national basic public health service project promotion meeting. Chen Zhen revealed in an interview after the meeting that the preliminary assessment of the current medical reform assessment has already taken shape. Chen Hao said that the assessment of the introduction of international organizations is to "see more objective evaluation."

In April 2009, the new medical reform kicked off. The State Council issued a document requiring 2009-2011, focusing on five key reforms, including accelerating the construction of a basic medical insurance system, establishing a preliminary national drug system, and improving the basic medical and health service system. We will promote the gradual equalization of basic public health services and promote the pilot reform of public hospitals. According to the distribution of time, the three-year medical reform task will be completed in March next year. Chen Yu said that many of the data have not yet come out, so this assessment is a “mid-term assessment”. However, after the completion of the three-year goal, whether it will be assessed again, Chen Hao said that no new assessment may be made.

With regard to the assessment timetable, Chen Hao disclosed that on the basis of the preliminary report, WHO will conduct a more detailed assessment, which will be completed as soon as the end of this year. After the assessment is completed, it is also expected to be announced to the public. At the promotion meeting, Chen Hao said that according to preliminary assessment results of domestic and foreign experts, the national basic public health service project has been recognized by domestic and foreign experts.

Linked Health Records Encoding ID Numbers The identification of national basic public health services launched in July 2009 is the most widely used public health intervention strategy in China. Chen Hao stated on the 15th that as of the end of June this year, the central government had invested more than 35 billion yuan in project funds and invested more than 30 billion yuan locally.

According to the requirements of the task, in 2011, the per capita basic public health service funding standard will be raised from 15 yuan to 25 yuan, and a resident health record will be established.

As of the end of June 2011, the national health record archiving rate reached 50.2%, and more than 20% of the county districts and cities had more than 50% electronic filing rates. The “Regulations on the Management of Health Records for Urban and Rural Residents” stipulates that residents’ health records will also be coded. Based on the national unified administrative division code, the village (neighborhood) committee shall be the unit to compile the unique code of residents’ health records. The identification number of the resident's ID card will be used as the ID number.