China health reform

China's State Council has approved a plan to spend a total of 850.0 billion renminbi ($123.0 billion) by 2011 to provide universal primary  medical services. Over the next three years, the multi-billion health  care plan is aimed at expanding the government-sponsored medical  insurance network to provide affordable, basic health care coverage to  over 90% of China's population. The plan seeks to expand health care  services by targeting the country's approximately 900 million farmers,  many of whom lack basic medical insurance, to ensure they are covered  under the program.