Weekly snapshot of Chinese health news

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The following are The highlights of CHINA's key health news from The past week:

-- CHINA is considering adding more anti-cancer drugs to its list of medicines eligible for medical insurance reimbursement in an effort to reduce The burden on patients.

The National Healthcare Security Administration said that apart from cancer drugs, medicines for rare diseases, chronic illness, children and first-aid treatment are among The options for a lengThened reimbursement list.

-- A total of 1.7 million Chinese had enjoyed The direct settlement of trans-provincial medical expenses by The end of January.

The direct settlement of trans-provincial medical expenses allows any patient enrolled in The public medical insurance system to be reimbursed for medical and inpatient expenses, no matter where They are treated.

-- The Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) evidence-based medical center, The world's first such organization, was officially established Tuesday in The CHINA Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS).

The center will pool togeTher The efforts of CACMS and oTher organizations such as Beijing University of Chinese Medicine for TCM evidence-based research.