THE Shenzhen Municipal Health, Population and Family Planning Commission had publicized an adjustment plan for medical charges at health-care institutions Tuesday. The commission intends to receive feedback and advice from the general public about the adjustments, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

    The plan mulls adjusting prices of medical services provided at all public hospitals across the city beginning July 1 to relieve the economic burden on patients and increase medical practitioners’ income. It will also classify medical institutions which will charge different levels of fees.

    According to a municipal commission, charges for treatment from medical workers are lower than the value of their labor, while the costs of using machines to perform medical tests are too high.

    The system has amplified conflicts between patients and doctors. The commission thinks it is urgent and important for Shenzhen to come up with a more logical charging system for the health-care sector.

    Based on requirements listed in health-care reform documents for Guangdong Province and Shenzhen, the price of physicals that require the use of machines needs to be lowered, while some surgeries and medical treatment will cost more.

    The price adjustment will be implemented in two stages, according to the commission. The first adjustment is going to be implemented on July 1, with some 811 charges adjusted. Specifically, 235 items will cost less, and 574 services will become more expensive while registration fees and the cost of medical record booklets will be removed from the charging list.

    The second phase of the adjustment will occur beginning in June 2017 and last for a year, with a focus on changing the prices of medical checks, nursing services and surgeries.

    Though some services are going to cost more, residents will pay less to see doctors and receive treatment in general, according to the commission. Shenzhen residents, as a whole, will save 52 million yuan (US$7.95 million) after the first stage of adjustment.

    Residents will also benefit from the lower-priced medication sold at public hospitals.

    The first phase of adjustment will begin in July, charges for 235 medical examinations using machines, including CT scans and MRIs, will drop by 20 percent on average. But six extra items will see a 10 percent increase in price.

    Among the medical services that charge more after the adjustment, 357 are difficult surgical procedures. Prices will jump an average of 50 percent. Another 217 forms of medical treatment will increase by around 25 percent on average.

    The existing charging standards discourage medical practitioners from performing difficult surgeries. The adjusted charges are meant to increase medical practitioners’ income by charging more for their labor.

    For patients who see doctors at outpatient departments, the cost of receiving a diagnosis will be increased.

    The plan also includes package charging for 36 disposable medical materials to avoid overuse of the materials.

    Under the current system, patients need to make appointments online and line up to register at the counter when arriving at the hospitals again. After the price adjustment residents will be able to pay online and see doctors directly.

    The plan also lists fee adjustment measures at smaller medical institutions. Some community medical institutions charge less for patients to see doctors there, but the qualifications of the doctors may not be as good as doctors at larger public hospitals. The plan mulls setting up specialist studios at community medical centers where patients can see doctors from large hospitals. (Zhang Qian)