Man gets 1st coronavirus-related medical reimbursement in Gansu

On Monday, a man cured of novel coronavirus surnamed Pan received his medical reimbursement in Northwest China's Gansu province. It is the first reimbursement related to the virus paid by the province.

His total medical expense was 11,017 yuan ($1,581). Basic medical insurance covered 6,621 yuan ($950), and the government's special subsidy paid the rest.

Pan was hospitalized in the First People's Hospital of Longxi county of Dingxi city on Jan 22 and was confirmed with being infected with the virus two days later.

After 11 days' therapy, he tested negative in the nucleic acid test. After a consultation, experts decided he could be discharged from the hospital.

Since the epidemic outbreak, the provincial healthcare security administration and Gansu's Department of Finance have jointly issued medical reimbursement policies for those residents infected or suspected of being infected with the virus. Thanks to these measures, the treatment is technically free for all confirmed patients.

As of Sunday, 196 million yuan ($315 million) of the medical insurance fund had been allocated to designated hospitals, which is a strong financial guarantee for timely treatment against the disease.

"The fund will cover all suspected and confirmed patients, making sure they get therapy in time ," said Xie Baocheng, deputy chief of the provincial healthcare security administration.

As of 8 pm on Wednesday, there were 62 confirmed cases, of which five patients in the province have been discharged from the hospital, while 1,336 people who had close contact with people who became ill are under medical observation.