Proponents: Reminding entrepreneurs to pay attention to their health and adding momentum to the development of private enterprises.
Opponents: Using public finances to serve a minority goes against social fairness.
"Never expected these controversies, the government's starting point is actually very simple - to care about private entrepreneurs because their physical well-being is indeed crucial for the development of their enterprises and economic growth. Entrepreneurs can easily afford higher-end health check-ups. By doing this, the government aims primarily to remind them of the importance of health. What's wrong with that?" When talking about online doubts, an unnamed official from the Hangzhou municipal government showed some indifference.
This debate originated from a document recently issued by the Hangzhou Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government - "Regulations on Health Check-ups and Convalescent Leave for Private Entrepreneurs in Hangzhou." This document stipulates: Starting from 2007, Hangzhou will select around 150 influential and representative private entrepreneurs citywide. Each year, the city will organize unified health check-ups, mobilizing top medical experts from various specialties, conducting health examinations for private entrepreneurs in batches. Relevant departments will also track and understand the health status of private entrepreneurs, establish health records for them, and issue priority treatment cards. The document also requires districts, counties, cities, and relevant municipal departments at all levels to refer to the city’s practices and arrange annual health check-ups and convalescent leaves for private entrepreneurs not included in the municipal list based on their own actual conditions.
The practice of local governments allocating special funds to arrange health check-ups and convalescent leaves for private entrepreneurs is not common domestically.
Currently, the production generated by the private economy exceeds 70% of Zhejiang Province's total output, accounting for 60% of the province's total tax revenue, and over 90% of new job positions are provided by private enterprises. Both the city and provincial governments have always attached great importance to the development of the private economy and have been caring for those private enterprise owners.
"The health issues of entrepreneurs are not just personal matters; they directly relate to the continuous, stable, and healthy development of enterprises. Due to market competition and work pressure, the physical condition of many entrepreneurs is worrying. The Party and the government should not only be concerned about the development of the private economy but also the physical health of private entrepreneurs," said Xu Guolian, Deputy Director of the Talent Office of the Organization Department of the Hangzhou Municipal Committee.
When the reporter asked several government officials, most of them held similar views.
According to reports, last year the Ningbo Entrepreneurs Association organized health check-ups for 32 entrepreneurs in the city, and the results...