China has announced higher reimbursements for two types of outpatient drugs. Patients taking medicines for hypertension and diabetes will now be reimbursed more than 50 percent of the drug costs by medical insurance funds, according to the National Health Commission.

According to the commission, the drugs for the two chronic diseases are regulated by the Catalogue of Drugs for Basic National Medical Insurance. The incentive policy will benefit over 300 million patients who are covered by urban and rural residential medical insurance. Current policies will still apply to patients who have already been included in the insurance system for chronic and special diseases.

As for the medical insurance fund for urban and rural residents, Chen Jinfu, deputy administrator of the National Healthcare Security Administration, said that currently China's insurance funds have been well supplied.

"In 2018, the income of healthcare insurance for China's urban and rural residents was over 780 billion yuan, and expenditures were over 710 billion, a surplus of over 70 billion. The current healthcare insurance fund will continue to run well," said Chen.

The move is intended to help those who continuously take the drugs long term and improve the health of senior citizens, as China has over 180 million elderly citizens suffering from chronic diseases, of whom 75 percent have one type or more.