Photo: IC

China's national medical insurance system has contributed to the major strategic achievements in the fight against COVID-19 with an accumulated appropriation of 20 billion yuan ($2.79 billion) of special funds having been earmarked and 2.97 billion yuan of payment having been settled as of April, statistics from China's National Healthcare Security Administration show. 

In terms of the medical insurance for vaccine and inoculation costs, China has gradually lowered the purchase price of inactivated vaccines to 20 yuan per dose from 90 yuan per dose, while vaccine manufacturers have coordinated to provide 600 million doses of vaccines free of charge, The Beijing News reported on Saturday. 

As of the end of March, China had inoculated 3.2 billion doses of vaccines, with the fees amounting to over 120 billion yuan, which were jointly paid by the medical insurance fund balance and the state finance. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the national medical insurance system has made it a top political priority of ensuring people's life and health. Taking into account the overall situation of epidemic prevention and control and social and economic development, the system has contributed to the major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic. 

The healthcare insurance has ensured that patients are not affected by medical fees, and ensured that the hospitals receiving the patients are not affected by the payment policy. Besides, medicines and items in medical treatment plans are temporarily included in the coverage of medical insurance payments and prepaid special funds are used in COVID-19 treatment. 

Global Times