Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has called on local authorities to "put people first" and give priority to the improvement of people's incomes when forging ahead with the country's ambitious health care reform.

To ensure people have an equitable access to basic health care is not only an important task of the health care reform, but an important means to promote social equity, resolve financial difficulties for people, and boost the country's employment, he said during a two-day inspection tour in Central China's Hubei province that began Monday.

China has launched a health care reform to last from 2009 to 2011. Under the 850 billion yuan (US$125 billion) plan, the government promised universal access to basic health insurance, the introduction of an essential drug system, improved primary health care facilities, equitable access to basic public health services and a pilot reform of state-run hospitals.

Efforts would be made to comprehensively strengthen basic public services, build a safety net for residents to make sure they have basic living expenses, accelerate the reform of the income distribution system, and increase the income of low-income groups in order to ensure the benefits of China's reform and development are shared by all people, he said.

In a tour to Dongshan Village of E'zhou City, Vice Premier stressed the importance of innovation in the local development mode, the improvement of farmers' incomes and social development in rural areas.

When visiting a community health care service station, Li called on medical staff to improve their professional competence and expand the scope of their service for the people.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2010)