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From ChinaView comes an interesting tidbit:

China to control procurement of high-cost medical devices

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-14 16:18:03

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health has reportedly tightened controls on purchases of high-priced "Group A" medical devices, which cost more than 5 million yuan (about 710,000 U.S. dollars), saying that such equipment could contribute to rising medical expenses.

The ministry and the National Development and Reform Commission will jointly develop a procurement plan for such items as X-ray machines and PET-CT scanners, according to the Beijing News.

The ministry said that these devices involved high operating costs and complex technologies.

The ministry said that it would ask experts to evaluate the purchase of such equipment before giving approval to medical organizations.

Ha! Even the old Ex-Communists get it. Well, I'm sure no one here wants to have to deal with their system, but at least they are being proactive about the high cost of medical care. If our insurance rates and health care expenditures keep skyrocketing, you can bet Washington will institute some very similar measures. Especially if Hillary should happen to win the White House.