BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to improve its basic public healthcare service program to better safeguard people's health, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).ziS安康新聞網

Per capita subsidies for the program were raised from 52.6 yuan (about 7.6 U.S. dollars) in 2017 to 57.6 yuan last year, read a statistical report on China's medical and healthcare sector issued by the NHC.ziS安康新聞網

Raising people's health awareness and offering free contraceptives were newly included in the program, which now covers 14 types of services, the report noted.ziS安康新聞網

Initiated in 2009, the program aims to provide free healthcare services for vulnerable groups, such as children, the pregnant and elderly people.ziS安康新聞網

Services under the program include setting up health archives for citizens, health management for pregnant women and elderly people aged 65 and above.ziS安康新聞網

During the two sessions in March, Premier Li Keqiang vowed to direct newly increased government subsidies for the program to villages and urban communities to benefit more primary-level groups.ziS安康新聞網