Beijing municipal government will fund the medical treatment of
homeless people who are in a critical condition and encourage
hospitals to accept these patients without charging deposits,
according to the Beijing municipal government.
This is another attempt by the local government to provide
social and medical assistance to the homeless, according to the
local Beijing Times.
"As the government starts to cover the costs, homeless patients
can receive timely treatment as hospitals no longer have to worry
about losing profits," said Chen Yawei, publicity director with
China Rehabilitation Research Center.
Beijing had set up 19 homeless shelters by 2005, providing food,
shelter and medical treatment.
China had set up over 1,000 shelters in major cities by the end
of last year to offer assistance to 820,000 homeless people,
helping them contact family members and buying them free bus
tickets to return home, according to the Ministry of Civil
Affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2006)
