China achieves 99 pct rural healthcare coverage

More than 800 million people, or 99 percent of China's total rural population, have access to the new rural cooperative medical insurance, according to data from the country's top health authority on Friday.

Ma Xiaowei, deputy director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said that 49 percent of the funds for new rural cooperative medical care is used, benefiting 860 million person-times in rural areas, 16.2 percent more than previous year.

Ma reiterated that the commission will strive to improve the rural cooperative medical care system, including increasing the sum of reimbursement of hospitalization fees and reducing the payment by rural residents.

Ma also urged all health institutions to work harder to tighten supervision over the system and solve existing problems.