Citizens in Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who are covered by the city’s social insurance system are now able to pay for medical bills using their social security cards at six hospitals across the region, according to Xinjiang Oilfield Social Security Center on Nov 22.

These hospitals include the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Cardiovascular Hospital, and the Occupational Disease Hospital.

Zhang Chengjie, deputy director of Xinjiang Xinjiang Oilfield Social Security Center, explained that the first six hospitals covered in the remote medical insurance payment system accepted a large number of transferred patients from Karamay.

So far, 1,844 insured people from Karamay paid their medical bills using their social security cards and received a total refund of 7.52 million yuan ($1.09 million).

“The project drastically cut expenses and saves time on medical treatment for patients who have to receive remote medical treatment and for insured citizens living in other cities for the long term,” Zhang said.

The project is expected to cover every hospital included in the social insurance system across the region after Karamay replaces its new social security cards next year.

Edited by Tyler Terrance Oneil