Medical reform aims to benefit all

China's planning agency has made clear that new medical reforms are to raise the cost of treatment, but lower the cost of medication. It also hopes through various measures, the price of medicines can be rationalized by 2010.

Medical experts say the reforms aim to benefit patients, drugs makers, and hospitals. The ultimate goal is to give everyone in society access to medical care. To achieve this goal, the central government has distributed 850 billion yuan, or 123 billion US dollars, to carry out the reforms over the next three years.