China called for patience Wednesday with an ambitious reform that aims to provide basic medical care for all by 2020, amid widespread discontent with the current system.
"We need the support and understanding of all sides, and we also hope that the general public will recognise the achievements that we are going to make," Wang Jun, vice minister of finance, told reporters.
The programme seeks to provide "safe, effective, convenient and affordable" services for China's 1.3 billion people, starting with a three-year plan that will see 850 billion yuan (124 billion dollars) invested.
The current system is widely seen as too costly, badly funded and providing shoddy treatment, and Wang admitted that would not change immediately.
"A reform of the medical and public health care system is a long-term process, it is impossible for you to see immediate results or effects after the investment is channelled."
Wang was speaking at a news conference grouping top officials from several ministries that have been involved in drafting the reform plan.
The situation has been particularly hard for masses of rural poor who must use their own meagre savings to pay for sub-par medical services at backward and ill-equipped clinics and hospitals.
Zhang Mao, vice minister of health, said the goal of the reform was to increase government spending on health care and reduce spending by individuals.
Some of the new specific measures planned include health records for all citizens in China, free physical examinations for the elderly and for infants and toddlers, and free Hepatitis B vaccinations for those under 15.
Hu Xiaoyi, vice minister of human resources and social security, said the plan had also taken into account migrant workers, for whom medical coverage would be provided even if they did not have a stable job.
But Sarah Barber, China team leader in health policy and systems for the World Health Organisation, noted that a majority of the initial investment of 850 billion yuan would be funded by local governments.
"It is important to note that some local governments, particularly in the poorer regions, may struggle to fund their share of the reform plan," she told AFP.
"This is an important issue that needs to be addressed."
