TOUR OF FRIENDSHIP Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meets with Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels on October 7. Xi arrived in Brussels that day to begin a five-nation European tour (LAN HONGGUANG)

Aid to the Disabled

China has initiated a two-year campaign to train professional workers who could provide advanced care for the country's 83 million disabled people.

From October to the end of 2011, experts on disabled rehabilitation will tour the country training professionals and executives in rehabilitation institutions, both government- and privately-owned, the China Disabled Persons' Federation said on October 5.

According to the federation, the courses will focus on rehabilitation skills and the management of rehabilitation centers.

By 2008, China had nearly 83 million disabled people but fewer than 30 percent of them had received rehabilitation services.

Drug Prices Slashed

Retail prices of almost half of the drugs on the Ministry of Health's essential medicines list will be slashed by 12 percent this month.

The cuts, which are aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens as part of far-reaching health reforms, will start on October 22, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on October 2.

The recommended retail prices of about 49 percent of the drugs will remain unchanged, while 6 percent of the listed drugs in short supply will be raised to encourage increased production, the commission said.

The Ministry of Health last month issued a list of 307 medicines that satisfy healthcare needs and are available to the public at all times in adequate amounts and in appropriate dosages.

According to the ministry's 10-year plan, about 30 percent of state-run grassroots clinics will be stocked with all essential medicines by the end of this year and urged to give these medicines priority use when treating patients.

A/H1N1 Flu Death

China reported on October 6 its first death from A/H1N1 flu, according to a Ministry of Health statement on its website.

An 18-year-old woman in Maizhokung-gar County of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, died of the A/H1N1 virus on October 4 at the county hospital. The woman was taken to the hospital on October 3 for coughing, sore throat and muscular stiffness. Her body temperature was as high as 40 degrees, a Tibetan regional health department official said.

The case has been confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, he said.

The Ministry of Health sent 200,000 doses of the A/H1N1 vaccine to Lhasa by air on October 6 to help contain the virus from spreading in the region.

Illegal Labor Export

China's nationwide campaign against illegal labor exports has born fruit as the government has seized 72 suspects involved in 48 cases, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The campaign, from June 10 to August 31, had dealt with 1,376 contractors without business licenses, and 27 brokers who had violated business rules.

These cases involved a total value of about 80 million yuan ($11.76 million). Three suspects were still at large, said the ministry.

China had sent 4.87 million workers abroad as of the end of August and about 766,000 are still currently working abroad, the ministry said. Labor disputes were rising due to illegal labor exports and poor operations by some overseas contractors.