More efforts should be made to improve the social security system and guarantee a better life for the people, says a signed article in People's Daily. An excerpt follows:
The municipal government is to include the Beijing Children's Medical Cooperation Fund, a voluntary fund jointly established by the Red Cross of Beijing, the local bureau of public health, and the commission of education in its social security system later this year. A more complete social security system, including a basic medical security system for children, will be a strong support to people's lives as well as to social harmony.
Compared with increasing GDP numbers and investment numbers, the construction of a complete social security system needs more effort by the government and may not achieve immediate results. Thus some regional governments are not enthusiastic about it and progress is slow.
As a country with a huge population, China needs to speed up completing its social security system. China's aging population is increasing rapidly. The cost of supporting the elderly will increase by 180 percent from 2005 to 2050. The government has to increase input in the social security system starting now.
Expanding our social security system will let more people enjoy basic security, giving them better opportunities for development.
From the angle of expanding domestic spending, people will spend more when the social security system is sound. Therefore, the construction of a complete social security system is not only a kind of expenditure but also an investment to expand economic growth. It can provide drive for sustainable development of our society and economy.
Social harmony and a more advanced civilization can be expected as our social security system is expanded.
(China Daily June 14, 2007)
