The Chinese government is giving all-out financial support to the
nationwide battle against the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) disease, Finance Minister Jin Renqing said Wednesday.
The State Council, China's cabinet, has decided to establish a 2
billion yuan (US$242 million) fund for SARS prevention and control,
of which 900 million yuan (US$108 million) has been allocated.
Local finance departments around the country have also arranged
funds for this purpose, the minister said in response to reporters'
questions.
By
Tuesday, various localities on the Chinese mainland have allocated
more than 5 billion yuan (US$602 million) for SARS prevention and
control. Among them, Beijing and Guangdong, which have the biggest
number of SARS patients, contribute more than 600 million yuan
(US$72 million) each.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry and Health Ministry have jointly
issued an urgent document requiring all localities to give
poverty-stricken peasants and urban dwellers, including peasants
working in towns, free medical service once they contract SARS, so
as to ensure each SARS patient receives timely medical care
regardless of his financial resources, Jin said.
To
improve medical service and effectively check the spread of SARS in
the countryside, the Finance Ministry and local finance departments
at all levels will ensure the main part of the augmented spending
in educational, health and cultural undertakings goes to the vast
rural areas beginning this year.
Preferential tax policies have also been formulated to support the
fight against SARS, the minister said.
Under the policies, preventive articles, medical equipment and
related vehicles from overseas donators are exempted from import
duties; individual income tax is free concerning the temporary
allowances for front-line medical and quarantine workers, and
preventive medicine and articles work units give to their staff
members; no income tax is levied on institutional and individual
donations for SARS prevention and control; and individual vegetable
sellers in Beijing are free from value-added tax, individual income
tax and two other taxes during the SARS-ridden period.
According to Jin, the central finance has also allocated special
fund to support the development of agent for fast testing of SARS
virus and anti-SARS medicine. Once the agent is developed, the
central finance will cover all the costs of its production,
procurement and issuance.
To
step construction of infrastructure facilities for disease
prevention and control and establish the fast response system of
public health emergencies in the country, the State Development and
Reform Commission has allocated 2.9 billion yuan to central and
western regions and another 600 million yuan for the construction
of the first-phase project of the state disease prevention and
control center.
The Finance Ministry has also set aside a 310 million yuan special
fund for the construction of the information system and equipment
procurement for China Disease Control Center, Jin said.
With all these efforts, plus the leadership of the central
authorities, the support of whole nation and the contribution of
medical workers and researchers, the Chinese people will surely win
the battle against SARS, he added.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2003)