China mulls new law to improve community-level health care services

China's top legislature is considering a draft law on promoting basic medical and health care, which requires efforts to improve community-level health care services.

The draft law was submitted for review to the bi-monthly legislative session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which opened Thursday.

The country should develop plans to appropriately allocate medical and health resources, and take measures to prioritize the development of medical and health institutions below the county level and improve their capacities to provide services, according to the draft.

It also requires the establishment of a system in which medical staff are dispatched to work in local communities and remote areas with harsh conditions on a regular basis.

The draft law says special preferential treatment shall be given to medical personnel working in local communities and remote areas in terms of remuneration, allowances, career development opportunity and awards, among others.

Efforts are needed to strengthen the competence of rural medical workers, open up more channels to improve subsidies and ensure aged-care pension policy for rural medical staff, according to the draft.