BEIJING - At least 24 of the Chinese mainland's 31 provincial-level regions have abolished the practise of giving free medical services to civil servants, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China reported on Thursday.

The newspaper, the People's Daily, said that Beijing ceased free medical services for municipal civil servants and employees in public institutions on January 1, becoming the latest among 24 provincial-level regions to do so. The remaining seven regions, including the provinces of Shandong, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, are also planning to make the same reforms.

Those civil servants and employees in public institutions who lost access to free medical services have joined the basic health insurance system, getting the same treatment as local residents.

Most civil servants were in favor of the reform, saying that it can help dissolve some conflicts between the government and the people, and save money for the government's budget, according to the report.

The waiver came after a decision by the central government 13 years ago to establish a basic health insurance system for urban employees, including those in governments and government-sponsored institutions, the newspaper said.

In place for decades, the free medical service system allows civil servants to enjoy full coverage of medical costs, or higher coverage when compared to health insurance, especially for outpatient services and common diseases.

However, health insurance is favorable when people suffer from serious illnesses, as patients have to pay for services, materials or medicines not listed in the free medical service catalog, the report said.