BEIJING - China will step up efforts to manage and serve patients of endemic diseases, such as Kashin-Beck disease, Keshan disease and skeletal fluorosis, according to the latest regulations issued by the National Health Commission (NHC).

Local medical institutions are asked to collect information about these patients and regularly visit them for at least once a year to learn about their latest situations, according to the regulations.

Local authorities should designate one or two hospitals to treat these patients. Campaigns should also be organized to increase public awareness of endemic disease prevention, the documents wrote.

Each patient can enjoy subsidies for treatment once a year. The regulations also asked health and administrative departments at different levels to step up the management and supervision of the subsidies.