China launches sweeping health care reform plan

China launched a landmark health care revamp Tuesday that aims to provide basic care for all by 2020, reforming an unpopular system seen as costly, badly funded and providing shoddy treatment.

The programme seeks to provide "safe, effective, convenient and affordable" health services for every one of the country's 1.3 billion people, the State Council, or Cabinet, said.

In a policy document published Monday, it acknowledged "pressing problems that have caused strong complaints from the public."

Few details of the reforms have been spelled out, but the official Xinhua news agency said the government Tuesday kicked off an initial three-year plan that will see 850 billion yuan (124 billion dollars) invested.