On July 18, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang urged the country to push forward with medical reform. The basic public health insurance system covers both urban and rural areas, but does not yet cover people with acute and serious chronic diseases, Li said. Li noted that a person who suffers from such an illness is likely to impose a major financial burden on their entire family. Li urged medical reformers to cover acute and serious chronic diseases under the current public health insurance system. Li also suggested that the insurance industry and the government cooperate to help individuals combat such diseases and their related costs.