On Aug. 22, Deputy Director General Yu Luming met with Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific and Mr. Hans Troedsson, WHO representative in China. He introduced matters related to reform of medical care system in Beijing, and discussed with the two guests about the prospective cooperation fields in future.

On behalf of Director General of Beijing Municipal Health Bureau Fang Laiying, Deputy Director General Yu extended warm welcome to the visit of Dr. Shin Young-soo and his party, and expressed appreciation for World Health Organization due to its long-term support and guidance for the healthcare work in Beijing.

Mr. Yu said that we have achieved satisfactory results in the reform of medical care system in Beijing. However, we are bound to face many other problems and challenges in our future work for the particularity and function positioning of Beijing as the capital of China. Beijing is striving to realize its goal in initiating basic medical service in both urban and rural areas in the city, do a good job in “Four Services” as required by the capital city’s positioning, as well as unremittingly accelerate the reform of medical care system. In the past, China performed a miracle of meeting the medical service needs of 22% of the world’s population by using only 1% of the world’s medical resources. And today, starting from a new stage of history after the Olympics 2008, we are to work a new miracle through the reform of medical care system. He hoped the World Health Organization shall continue to support the work of Beijing Municipal Health Bureau.

Dr. Shin Young-soo expressed his gratitude for Yu’s cordial reception. He observed that, as an expert in this field, he has witnessed the continuous advancement of China’s medial reform over the years, and the immense growth of China’s society and economy. China’s medial reform mode and structure can also serve as a role model for other countries across the world. Beijing compels our respect and admiration as it maintains great attention to public health despite the fact that the city’s healthcare index is almost comparable to that of developed countries. In spite of tremendous challenges facing the reform, Beijing is bound to succeed owing to its precise plans and objectives. The World Health Organization is willing to offer support in terms of policy and technology during Beijing’s reform of medical care system.

At the meeting, relevant personnel from Policy and Regulation Division, Division of Women and Society, as well as Medical Equipment and Apparatus Division introduced related work in respects of policies, community basic health services, and medicine zero difference sales during the reform of medical care system. Related staff from the International Cooperation Office also attended the meeting.

The two sides also discussed coopeation possobilities as regarding non-communicable diseases, health enhancement and tobacco control.