In 2020, Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, launched a series of health care measures and improved people's livelihoods, achieving excellent results, according to a municipal news conference held on March 4.

On Jan 1, 2020, the medical insurance system for urban residents and the new rural cooperative medical insurance system for rural residents were integrated. Since then, the city's more than 6.8 million urban and rural residents have enjoyed the same medical insurance.

Citizens handle medical insurance-related services at the government service center in Yanta district, Xi'an. [Photo/xiancn.com]

The reimbursement process for prenatal examination expenses at the fertility clinic has been optimized, with a one-time subsidy of 1,000 yuan ($154.45).

Starting from Aug 1, 2020, the supplementary medical insurance benefits for urban employees have been incorporated into the basic urban employee medical insurance payment scope, with reduced payment standards, an increased reimbursement ratio and a simplified reimbursement process.

The city also adjusted the prices for 908 medical service items in municipal public medical institutions and 1,048 medical services in general medical institutions at and below the county level.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi'an's health care bureau fully supported the resumption of work and production for enterprises. It also implemented a five-month halving of the payment of basic medical insurance for employees in the city, covering more than 2 million employees with a reduction of 2.5 billion yuan.

In 2021, Xi'an will stabilize the participation rate of medical insurance for urban and rural residents above 98 percent. It will also ensure that the proportion of hospitalization expenses within urban and rural residents' policy scope is not less than 70 percent.

Meanwhile, it will encourage qualified medical and elderly care institutions to be included as medical insurance designated points and establish family medical insurance payment policies. The city will improve medical insurance benefits and service levels for the elderly, allowing people to enjoy more equitable and appropriate medical insurance rights.