Some 68 million Chinese farmers have benefited from a new rural cooperative medical program since last July.

Vice Health Minister Zhu Qingsheng made the announcement Friday in Beijing.

The cooperative program aims to provide financial help for impoverished farmers with serious illnesses. The bill for their treatment will be mainly covered by the central and local government as well as farmer's tax payment.

By now, the Chinese government has collected more than three billion yuan, or about US$360 million, for the program.

The minister says Chinese government will input more capital in rural medical service. The cooperative medical system is expected to cover all the rural areas in the nation by 2010.

(CRI November 5, 2004)