Only half of China¡¯s farmers can afford medical care, according to Chinese Vice Minister of Health Zhu Qingsheng.

Sixty to 80 per cent of the farmers in West China die at home for lack of medical care, Zhu told the media at a press conference on rural Chinese co-operative healthcare.

China¡¯s rural families had an average per capita income of 2,622.2 yuan (US$315) in 2003, while the average cost of each hospitalization was 2,236 (US$268). Sickness is the main reason for poverty among China¡¯s rural population.

70 per cent of the country¡¯s healthcare expenditure goes to urban areas, where only 30 per cent of the Chinese population resides.

In 2003 the average out-patient costs among Chinese citizens per visit was 108.2 yuan (US$13), 57.7 per cent above the figure from five years ago, while in-patient cost increased by 76.1 per cent during the same period, both much faster than the rate of increase in people¡¯s income, according to the vice-chairman of the standing committee of the NPC, Han Qide, who put forward plans for reforming the national medical system.

(Star News)