Healthcare Vital at Community Level

Outlook Weekly

October 20

In recent years, the Chinese public has bemoaned the increasing difficulty of seeing a doctor and the growing expenses for medical services. In an effort to make healthcare more affordable, a pertinent solution would be to set up a complete basic medical security system. A more balanced distribution of medical resources, too, would help people gain easier access to healthcare services. Better utilizing the nation's general practitioners and community clinics is the key.

Marathon Popularity on the Rise

Beijing Morning Post

October 20

Despite the increased enrollment fee for participation in this year's Beijing Marathon on October 19, more people enrolled than in previous years. This is good news for a country that is faced with a steadily rising number of chronic disease sufferers, and shows that such races ought to be more strongly encouraged in China.

Every year, 10 million Chinese people are newly diagnosed with high blood pressure, and 10 percent of the country's population now suffers from diabetes. Of the cohort aged 15- 64, chronic diseases afflict 52 percent. It is suspected that the underlying cause for these increases is a lack in exercise: Compared to 1991, the time people now spend playing sports has decreased by 45 percent, and fewer than 12 percent of those over age 18 regularly participate in sports.