以大病统筹为主要内容的新型农村合作医疗制度,是针对近年来城镇居民和广大农村居民医疗保健水平差距不断拉大,医疗费用与农村支付能力相对不足的矛盾日渐突出而出台的一个新举措。根据《国务院办公厅转发卫生部等部门关于建立新型农村合作医疗制度意见的通知》,2003年6月3日, The new rural cooperative medical system, which focuses on overall planning for major diseases, is a new measure that has been introduced in response to the ever-increasing contradiction between the inequalities in the level of health care between urban and rural residents and the relative inadequacy of medical expenses and rural payment capacity. According to the “Notice of the General Office of the State Council Forwarding the Opinions of the Ministry of Health and Other Departments on Establishing a New Rural Cooperative Medical System”, June 3, 2003,