Debate in China About Who Should Pay Swine Flu (H1N1) Treatment Costs
Treatment costs of tens of thousands of RMB (equivalent to thousands of U.S. dollars) are out of reach for most citizens in China, and the drugs used are not necessarily on the national formulary and therefore not reimbursed. This leaves patients and hospitals in a quandary, and spurs debates about which government entity (i.e., the Ministry of Health [MOH] or Social Security) should pay. In late January, the MOH announced an increase in the reimbursement limit for both service fees and medication while encouraging citizens with financial hardships to seek help from local government units.
The H1N1 epidemic is still active in China. During the week of January 11-17, the 31 reporting provinces had a total of 1,556 cases, resulting in 27 deaths and 348 hospitalizations. As the Chinese New Year approaches, the MOH is recommending that higher-risk groups (e.g., the elderly, pregnant women, infants) refrain from traveling during the holiday season.