Chinese political advisors consulted about medical reform

BEIJING -- China's political advisors on Tuesday put forward proposals on reforms of public hospitals and medical insurance.

A statement issued after a meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the country's top political advisory body, said attendees agreed that despite progress, ordinary people still find medical services scarce and expensive.

They suggested changes to public hospital management and a new system of payment and benefits for medical staff to free hospitals from dependency on revenue from drug sales, said the statement.

Community medicine should be another priority with cooperation between urban hospitals and community clinics, according to the meeting, which was chaired by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Vice Premier Liu Yandong attended the meeting and admitted that medical reform is at a tough stage. She promised that the government would make basic medical services a priority.