China, WHO join hands to boost healthcare equality  

Beijing (CNS) -- China's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly launched a cooperation strategy on Tuesday to boost healthcare equality in the country.

The strategy commits China and the WHO to reducing the regional disparity in medical facilities and public health services, most notably in China's western areas, according to the ministry

The strategy outlines four priorities:

First, China and the WHO will work in collaboration to improve the health conditions of the public by optimizing the country's healthcare system.

Second, the two sides will join hands in reducing the occurrence of major diseases and the death toll from sanitation-related diseases.

Third, provincial public health campaigns will be launched by the two sides to reduce health inequities in the western region of China.

Fourth, the WHO will continue to support China in its efforts to contribute more to international health cooperation.

The signing of the strategy not only shows the deepening of the partnership between the two sides, but also demonstrates the strong commitment to improving the health of the Chinese people, said Shin Young-soo, the WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific.

The cooperation plan is scheduled to last from 2013 to 2015.