Chinese citizens will now have more smart payment options to pay for services under the medical insurance system. The new options are being rolled out to reduce long queues and simplify payments for various medical services received by patients.
A notice issued by the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said the new options will include facial recognition, QR code, mobile and credit-based payments. At present, the patients have to endure several bottlenecks in the system. These include repeated payments and prolonged waiting times when seeking medical treatment.
The unified smart payment system would cover all three services in medical treatment, including outpatient, emergency and inpatient services.
Under the revamped system, which will be rolled out on a pilot basis, multiple payment methods will be integrated and made mutually complementary to meet the needs of different groups. The NHSA plans to cover all the eligible medical institutions across the country within three years.
Facial recognition payment allows patients to complete identity verification and payment without physical cards or smartphones, a feature particularly helpful for elderly patients unfamiliar with digital devices.
Under the present system, patients have to complete medical insurance reimbursement, personal account payment and out-of-pocket expenses separately. The introduction of a QR code will allow them to perform all these actions with a single scan.
The option of mobile payment will facilitate the entire process to be handled online through apps or mini-programs. Credit-based payment will allow the patients to "receive treatment first and pay later."
The NHSA has also emphasised the importance of data security and personal privacy protection. It said that while introducing these new options, supporting risk control measures will be strengthened to ensure the system operates in a lawful, secure and sustainable manner. Pilot cities will be selected based on their digital infrastructure and readiness for reform.