New health care policy criticized

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-10-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CHINA'S policy makers may not have anticipated such strong feedback on the new health care reform plan which is being widely criticized as incomprehensible.

"It's too hard to understand. What is it about?? an anonymous netizen wrote on sina.com, commenting on the 13,000-word document, which was opened to public debate last Tuesday.

?¨The plan should be comprehensible to the general public. Do you think farmers, who are in great need of medical help, could understand it and propose any suggestions?? Liu Zheng wrote on the National Development and Reform Commission Website.

Such opinions were shared by many, including scholars and health professionals.

Peking University Professor Liu Guo??en described the plan as a ?¨Baguwen,? or the eight-part prose prescribed for the Imperial Civil Service Examinations of long ago, known for its rigidity in style and paucity of ideas.

Criticizing the plan as being ambiguous, the professor said that by trying to address each and every aspect of the health care system, the plan had no focus and looked too complicated.

Liu said the plan??s drafters failed to explain professional items and ideas in simple words. ?¨If they intend to solicit public opinion, they should at least change the writing style.?

State media, which seldom openly criticizes the government, also joined in.

Bai Yansong, a renowned TV host with the state broadcaster CCTV, said the plan was full of ?¨empty? and ?¨obscure? words.

?¨I believe many people will have nothing to say about the reform, because they don??t know what it is,? he said in a program on Wednesday. ?¨It??s all written in Chinese, but you just cannot understand it.?

Growing public criticism of soaring medical fees, a lack of access to affordable medical services, poor doctor-patient relationship and low medical insurance coverage had compelled the government to launch the new round of reform.