BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Medical fees for both inpatient and outpatient services have risen rapidly over the past six years, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday.

The figures show that average outpatient expenditure rose to 4,669 yuan (about 584 U.S. dollars) in 2006, an increase of just under 44 percent from 2001.

Outpatient medical fees averaged 129 yuan (16 U.S. dollars) per person in 2006, rising by 7 to 9 per cent annually since 2001, according to the MOH.

Over the same period, average inpatient prescription costs fell to 1,922 yuan (240 U.S. dollars), accounting for 41 percent of the total cost of medical fees.

China is now trying to provide its rural areas with a new healthcare system in a bid to improve standards in the impoverished countryside.

According to a recent government report by Premier Wen Jiabao, the trial area of the government's rural co-operative healthcare system will be expanded this year to cover more than 80 percent of counties, county-level cities and city districts.

Minister of Health Gao Qiang, stated that China was also reforming its urban medical services and planning a new service and management system in order to, "Provide quality, convenient, basic medical services at reasonable prices."