Zeng Yixin (second from right), vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission inspects the construction of a local hospital in Yunnan province. 

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Yunnan reported their healthcare reform work at a conference held by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province on July 6.

Zeng Yixin, vice-minister of the NHFPC, hosted the conference and delivered a speech.

Zeng said that local governments of the four regions have been focusing on healthcare reform as an important measure to improve people’s livelihoods and to speed up the construction of the basic medical care system.

2017 is a key year for carrying out a healthcare reform plan, the vice-minister said. Healthcare reform should focus on five points -- the tiered system of medical care service, modern hospital management, universal healthcare, a drug supply system and a comprehensive supervision system.

“To deepen healthcare reform, health departments at all levels should stress the importance of community health service, general practitioners training, healthcare payment reform, drug price controls and other aspects related to people’s livelihoods,” he added.

Zeng urged the four regions to take advantage of their strengths and cooperate with each other, integrating national strategies with regional economic and social development to boost coordinated healthcare reform.