China medical news headlines for Monday 27th January

Premier pledges social security system
In his first press conference as premier, Li Keqiang affirmed the Chinese government's commitment to building a social security system safety net that will include provision of medical care. According to China Daily, the premier said the government should "weave a network that guarantees the basic living of all the people", covering education, medical care, social insurance and housing.

Blood donations dry up at New Year
China is facing severe shortages in blood donations as the usual donors - students - return home for Chinese New Year. Nanning's blood donation centre now has only 300 donors a day but the city needs 4-500 to meet hospital demand, according to CRI. Cold winter weather also deters people from going to blood donation centers or donation buses, health authorities say.

Whistleblower doctor gets her job back
Mianyang's 'corridor doctor' whistleblower who lost her job after complaining about hospital overservicing will be offered her job back after an inquiry, authorities in Sichuan say, according to Global Times. Lan Yuefeng worked in a corridor for two years after protesting about her hospital offering unnecessary treatments and profiteering.

Laowai not using medical cards
Foreigners who work in China now receive social security cards that allow them to access subsidised medical treatment in the same way as Chinese citizens, according to China Daily. However many foreigners are unsure of their entitlements and do not use them, a professor says.

Social security shortfall
New social security laws compel local authorities to provide financial assistance to the needy including those with severe medical conditions and local officials  face legal action if they refuse to provide it, according to the Beijing Review. However,  local authorities say they do not have the personnel to check every single claim for validity.

Outdoor workers get pollution clinics
Shanghai has set up special drop-in medical centres for outdoor workers who are suffering from the effects of air pollution, according to ECNS. The city authorities have also provided 300 medical cards for outdoor workers because of their high risk of pollution-related ailments.

Leaders call for action on H7N9 response
The Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong has called on all local authorities across China to take action to prevent the spread of H7N9 influenza. Local health departments will face punishment if they do not take action on epidemic surveillance and outbreak response plans in areas such as health institutions and schools. Poultry markets in Beijing have not tested positive for H7N9 influenza virus, according to the Shanghai Daily. However Shanghai has now experienced its eighth case of H7N9 avian influenza of the year, the paper reports.

Premier Li Keiqiang - love not discrimination needed to help HIV patients

"Numerous stars are needed to light up the sky," -  this is how Premier Li Keqiang highlighted the necessity for social organizations and volunteers to contribute to the fight against AIDS in a letter to medical workers and patients in a hospital in Beijing.
The letter was to mark World AIDS Day on Sunday, which had the theme, "Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-free Generation".  President Xi Jinping also pointed out that efforts from all walks of life must be mobilized to provide AIDS patients with as good care as possible and eliminate discrimination against them.
Indeed, joint efforts are necessary, as apart from new medicines, people's awareness about how they should behave to avoid being vulnerable to the virus needs to be promoted.
Statistics show as of September, 434,000 people were detected with HIV/AIDS, the newly detected cases stood at 70,000 this year and nearly 90 percent involved sexual transmission.
As Premier Li wrote in his letter, the efforts of the government, along with the efforts of volunteers and social organizations, with whom he has been interacting and giving support for years, have stemmed the rapid increase of HIV infections. This has been no easy task for such a populous country as China.

Vice Premier calls for action to reduce the urban-rural health gap

China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang says investment is needed to boost medical services in regional and rural areas

Increased financial support and innovative ways of working are needed to ensure that patients, doctors and hospitals all benefit from the country's medical reform, according to Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang.
Li, who is also head of the State Council's leading group for medical and health care reform, made the comments Saturday at a reform-themed meeting.
The Chinese government initiated medical and healthcare systems reform in the 1980s. In March 2009, a new round of reform was launched aimed at equal access to basic public health services in different regions.
Li described reform as a campaign to reshuffle the current benefit distributions with the ultimate goal to allocate more concrete help for people.
"Our medical reform directly targets the urban-rural gap and the regional gap. It has won strong support from the public because it started with strengthening services at grassroots levels and favoring central and west regions as well as rural areas," Li said.
Rural doctors and principals of several pilot public hospitals also attended the meeting to provide their own opinions concerning various reform policies.
While urging increased financial investment, Li called for innovations in the operation, management, personnel, distribution and other aspects of the healthcare field in order to benefit people, stimulate the passion of medical workers and ensure the active running of health institutions.
During the meeting, attendees heard and discussed a document on improving the basic medicine system, a guideline on establishing an emergency illness aid system as well as a report on the reform of public hospitals.
The country's medical reform is shifting its focus from laying foundations to boosting the quality of services during the 2011-2015 period, Li said.
He called for special focus on improving insurance for serious diseases and a medical emergency aid system.
Source: Xinhua

"Most beautiful" rural doctors tell VP about backward conditions

Rural doctors say they must work on low incomes with outdated equipment

The country's model rural doctors have been praised by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who called on health institutions to provide the practitioners with more health care.
While meeting the model doctors on Saturday, Li said, "You fully demonstrate benevolence as all doctors should. You've done good deeds and made unimaginable sacrifices for other people."
The practitioners were dubbed "the most beautiful rural doctors" after the media reported their devotion to treating people despite their own health problems, poverty and, in some cases, disabilities.
During a symposium with Li, the doctors voiced their concerns including medical risks, lack of study opportunities, outdated equipment, low incomes and the absence of retirement insurance.
Li promised to investigate these issues and called on rural doctors to protect themselves during their work.
Three of the doctors also attended a meeting held by the State Council's leading group for medical and health care reform to provide their opinions on policies.
Source: China Daily