China expands medical insurance to over 72% of village clinics

It aims to cover 100% of rural villages by the end of 2024.

Over 72% of village clinics in China are now part of the national medical insurance system, enhancing healthcare access in rural areas, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA).

The NHSA reported that of the 580,000 village clinics across the country, about 100,000 are now covered by basic medical insurance, and services at 320,000 clinics are eligible for reimbursement at township health centres.

This inclusion is a key step in meeting the healthcare needs of rural residents and improving access to treatment and medications for common illnesses. 

To ensure universal coverage, the NHSA and National Health Commission plan to include all eligible village clinics in the insurance system by the end of 2024.

Additionally, ongoing efforts aim to strengthen mechanisms that prevent poverty due to illness and expand insurance coverage for low-income rural populations.