A teller at a hospital [Photo: wccdaily.com.cn]

The Chinese State Council has published its major health care reform tasks for the year, with a general practitioner pilot program and reduced reliance on drug revenue for health centers.

This year, 200 cities will trial general practitioner or GP programs, making the service available to 15 percent of urban citizens and 30 percent of key groups.

GPs will open their practices to residents, providing them with basic, consistent medical services.

The plan is part of a tiered health system being rolled out across the country.

To improve local-level medical institutions, the government will allow physicians in public hospitals to practise, or establish their own practices.

Another health reform task this year will be the establishment of a pricing mechanism for drugs to reduce the cost born by patients.

Patients will be given the choice of buying drugs from hospitals or retail pharmacies.

Revenues of public hospitals will no longer rely on drug sales, but medical service charges instead.