The development plan is expected to be fully implemented by the year 2010 and has been drafted by the Ministry of Health, the State Development Planning Commission, and five other departments under the State Council.

It is designed to further improve the health-care network in rural areas, introduce an effective medical insurance system and prevent various infectious diseases among farmers, many of whom are still not covered by any medical insurance.

Over the past several years, China has devoted a lot to improving the health-care system in cities, where most people can already enjoy good health care and medical insurance.

Official statistics show that about 70 percent of the country's medical resources are in urban areas, which only have 30 percent of the population.

The poor conditions and service of rural hospitals have forced farmers to seek better treatment in city hospitals.

Under the new plan, more government investment will be given to rural hospitals.

More than 60 percent of patients from rural areas now leave hospital before they have fully recovered because they cannot afford the cost.

In 2000, 87.3 percent of sick farmers paid their own medical expenses in full, with 25 percent of them having to borrow money to pay the fee, according to the Ministry of Health.

(People's Daily June 11, 2002)