China Overhauls Insurance Payouts to Cure Overcrowding at Top Hospitals

China is overhauling medical insurance payouts to offer identical funding for 158 common ailments and procedures across all hospital tiers, a shift designed to drive patients toward community clinics and ease overcrowding at major medical institutions.

The National Healthcare Security Administration announced Monday that the payment reform will introduce a primary care disease list covering conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, alongside minor surgeries. Under the revisions, the state medical insurance fund will disburse the same amount for these treatments whether they are performed at a top city hospital or a rural clinic.