The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) held a conference on how to provide better healthcare to China's poor areas on January 10. 

It reviewed the improvements of the health poverty alleviation project in 2016, and discussed arrangements for further work this year. Li Bin, minister of the NHFPC, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

All Chinese living below the poverty line in rural areas will have access to basic medical care and other health services "close to" the national average by 2020, according to a guideline released by 15 central government departments.

The health poverty alleviation project is part of a national strategy to ensure that all people will rise above the poverty line in China by 2020.

Li Bin said that to help impoverished regions gain access to more health resources, the NHFPC will increase subsidies for insurance for the rural poor and encourage the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to invest in these regions. 

The top health authorities will improve medical care services and strengthen disease prevention and control in poor areas, eradicating poverty caused by diseases right from the source. 

Li urged that these areas should further implement the health poverty alleviation project, improving medical service and streamlining medical insurance and security systems to provide health safeguards to the residents.