The medical insurance code is an electronic certificate and information identification for medical insurance participants. Since the digital tool was launched in November 2019, it has seen more than 1.08 billion people register and brought great convenience to its users, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA).

　　Those covered by basic medical insurance can view the digital code on the national government service platform, WeChat, Alipay and bank apps. It can be used to make hospital appointments, see doctors, undergo tests and examinations, collect reports and buy medicines.

　　Thirty-one provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) directly under the central government and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps support the purchase of drugs using medical insurance codes, with access to more than 800,000 designated medical institutions nationwide.

　　As for the activation rate, Zhejiang and Qinghai provinces take the lead, achieving full coverage of their enrollees. More than half the provinces have an activation rate of more than 75 percent.

　　According to Tencent Health estimates, medical insurance code-related services save an average of 43 minutes for each patient. The code not only makes healthcare convenient for patients, but also improves hospitals' efficiency.

　　The medical insurance department will continue to optimize and improve the application scenario of the medical insurance code, simplify service procedures, and develop more functions, according to Xie Zhangshu, an official at the NHSA.