BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- China will strictly limit the size of large hospitals so as to lower the cost of medical treatment for the people, said Health Minister Gao Qiang here Saturday.

    To give the people an easier and cheaper access to medical service should be taken as a historical task, which should make breakthrough in the 11th five-year program, said Gao at the 2006 national health work conference.

    Chinese hospitals should not follow suit, though hospitals in developed countries purchase luxury medical equipment and use top techniques in the treatment, he said.

    This year, the Ministry of Health will tighten the control over the expansion of large hospitals and their purchasing of large medical equipment with bank loans and public funds, Gao told the conference.

    He urged local health authorities to provide hospital and medicine service at a reasonable price for farmers, urban laid-offs, jobless, migrant workers, the elderly and children.

    Control over luxury hospitals and wards at special requests by the patients should also strengthened, said Gao, noting that the special sickbeds in a hospital should not exceed 10 percent of the total sickbeds.

    Hospitals should spend the income of special medical service in setting up funds for saving needy people, said Gao, "The patients with financial difficulties or in critical condition must be treated first, instead of being charged first." Enditem