Organizations to aid accessibility certification

As China mulls measures to provide a better barrier-free environment for the disabled and the elderly, organizations are being invited to apply for the right to issue accessibility certificates to participating venues.

According to a plan officially issued on Nov 10 by the State Administration for Market Regulation and China Disabled Persons' Federation, organizations must demonstrate that they are qualified and capable.

Once the organizations are approved by authorities, they will be able to certify places with barrier-free environments.

Those found in violation of laws and regulations during the certification process will face legal redress, and organizations found to be in severe breach of the law will be designated as dishonest.

Plan seeks business boost in Yangtze Delta

The National Development and Reform Commission has unveiled a three-year action plan to build a world-class business environment in the Yangtze River Delta area.

According to the plan issued on Nov 10, by the year 2025, a unified open-market system will be established in this major economic hub in China. This will allow the free, orderly flow of materials and other resources to be realized, and administrative barriers will be gradually removed.

Efforts will also be made to facilitate trade, investment and government affairs services and to reduce the cost of institutional transactions, the plan said.

Meanwhile, it aims to boost the vitality and quality of market entities and improve the efficacy of governance in a comprehensive way.

As the delta area develops, a market-oriented, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework will be set up, with the region expecting to become more competitive globally.

Counterfeits destroyed during crackdown

The State Administration for Market Regulation conducted a nationwide operation on Nov 10 that destroyed more than 3,000 metric tons of counterfeit and inferior commodities worth about 500 million yuan ($70.68 million).

During the crackdown, which was conducted simultaneously in 17 provincial-level regions, more than 100 types of goods, including food, drugs, clothing, cigarettes and pirated publications, were destroyed.

Reimbursement of medical fees expanded

Statistics from the National Healthcare Security Administration show that coverage of the country's direct settlement of cross-provincial outpatient expenses has expanded.

Under the program, the central government reimburses patients for their medical fees.

In the first nine months of this year, more than 20.62 million direct settlements of cross-provincial outpatient expenses were made, with patients spending more than 4.96 billion yuan ($701 million).

About 2.96 billion yuan from the public medical insurance fund was used to reimburse patients during this period, accounting for 59.7 percent of the total spent.

In a notice issued on Nov 3, the administration also said reimbursement for fees spent on the treatment of five chronic diseases and special diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, is now offered in 86 percent of the country.

By the end of September, there were about 76,100 designated hospitals and medical institutions nationwide.