In January, China is expected to issue its official medical reform plan, under which the country will provide universal medical service by 2020 to its 1.3 billion people, including the currently underserved rural population. The plan states as a central provision that it is the government’s responsibility to play the dominate role in providing public health and basic medical service. That principal reverses a trend toward privatizing healthcare in China and putting the responsibility on the individual. Both the central and local governments will increase their levels of financial support. The final version of the plan is expected to be very similar to the draft, which was made available on October 14 on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).  More details...