Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission, made an inspection tour to East China's Shandong province to learn about the local health-related work, especially health poverty alleviation, from Mar 27 to 28.

Ma and his inspection group went to four health centers in Feixian county in Linxi city, talking face to face with medical workers and residents in poverty. They also visited registered patients in poverty and held symposiums to learn about health poverty alleviation and deepening medical reform so as to make further plans to promote the province's health works.

He said that the province has taken practical measures to build a county-level medical institutions network and innovate working procedures on comprehensive inspection and management, ensuring the health of women and children and improving health literacy. 

The province's health authorities should continue the efforts and the right direction, giving county-level hospitals full play in health development and improving health service capabilities of remote areas and grassroots medical centers, according to Ma.

Ma said that an integrated medical services system and a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system need to be established. The level of the basic health guarantee programs under health poverty alleviation should continue based on national standards, without adjusting them, to ensure residents in poverty can access medical services and to relieve the poverty caused by medical expenditures while continuing to increase health benefits for residents. 

Ma Xiaowei (R), minister of the National Health Commission, inspects a village health center in East China's Shandong province. [Photo/en.nhc.gov.cn]