ChinaBio Today -- As the year officially transitions from 2008 to 2009, it seems natural to anticipate the future and reflect backwards. Looking forward, sometime later this month, China is expected to release its official medical reform plan, which will set healthcare policy for the immediate future (see story). Under the new directive, China will provide universal medical service by 2020 to its 1.3 billion people, including the currently underserved rural population. The plan states as a central provision that it is the government’s responsibility to play the dominate role in providing public health and basic medical service. That principal reverses a trend toward privatizing healthcare in China and putting increasing responsibility on the individual. Both the central and local governments will boost their levels of financial support. The final version of the plan is expected to be very similar to the draft, which was made available on October 14 on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Many of China’s existing biopharmas are expecting increased sales of their products to help treat the rural population, whose healthcare has lagged behind service to the urban sector.
