The Chongqing government has canceled the price markups of medical consumables in public medical institutions in the city -- and adjusted the prices of a number of medical services items since Dec 22, according to officials.

They said the overall goal was to achieve the sustainable development of public medical institutions. This would be done through a series of measures, including canceling the markups of medical consumables and increasing the prices of certain medical services such as surgical treatment. 

Medical consumables and equipment include syringes, needles, sutures, staples, packaging, tubing, catheters, medical gloves, gowns, masks, adhesives and sealants for wound dressing and a whole host of other devices and tools used with a hospital or surgical environment. 

During the process, the city government will also advance the centralized procurement of high-value medical consumables and promote new payment methods such as the diagnosis related grouping method, providing affordable medical services to the public. 

"Citizens can buy medical consumables at purchase price when go see doctors at public medical institutions in Chongqing", said an official from the Medical Insurance Bureau. 

The official added that the reform was carried out throughout the city. All public hospitals -- run by governments at all levels, public institutions and State-owned enterprises -- have been covered in the project. 

Preferential price policies have been granted to projects involving Chinese medicine and pediatric medicine. For some projects that involve special groups, more reasonable prices will be formulated based on the average prices of neighboring provinces and cities. 

Officials said the city has adjusted and optimized critical illness insurance policy for poor people in rural areas, offering medical assistance to people in need. 

In addition, supervision of medical insurance funds and medical activities has been strengthened. 

Officials said that various types of violations of regulations in public medical institutions incorporated, outlined in the reform, should be punished to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the general public.