The Law on Promotion of Basic Medical and Health Care of China was promulgated in 2019 and entered into force on June 1, 2020.

There are 110 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.The State shall establish a basic medical and health care system, establish and improve upon a medical and health service system, protect and realise citizens’ right to obtain basic medical and health services.(Article 5)

2.“Basic medical services” means disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, nursing, rehabilitation and other services provided by adopting suitable drugs, appropriate technologies and suitable equipment that are necessary for the maintenance of human health, that are compatible with the economic and social development level, and that are equitably available to citizens. (Article 15)

3.Basic medical services are mainly provided by medical and health institutions run by the government. Medical and health institutions run by nongovernmental sectors are encouraged to provide basic medical services. (Article 29)

4.The medical service system shall insist on non-for-profit medical institutions as the principal parts and for-profit medical institutions as the supplements.(Article 39)

5.The state shall implement the essential drug system and select appropriate number of essential drugs to meet the basic drug needs for prevention and control of diseases. Essential drugs shall be preferentially included in the list of essential medical insurance drugs according to the provisions. (Article 59)

6.The state shall develop and implement the work plans for the health of minors, women, senior citizens, disabled persons and other people, and strengthen the health care services for key groups of people.(Article 76)