China issued a guideline for curbing rapidly rising medical expenditures in the country’s public hospital system on Nov 6, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).

The guideline asked local authorities to closely monitor the rise of medical costs at public hospitals in their jurisdiction, particularly the cost of medicine, medical consumables and large-scale medical examinations, and to publicize the surveillance results regularly.

The guidance also set a two-phase target that by 2016 the rise of expenses will slow, and by the end of 2017 insured patients will see the share of out-of-pocket spending in their total medical bill decreasing gradually.

The NHFPC said it is time the country put forward a national level guidance on medical expense control so as to relieve financial burdens of the public and ensure the sustainable use of the medical insurance fund.