For 58-year-old housewife Ma, Beijing's public hospital reforms have so far worked out pretty well.

"It's definitely reduced the cost of the medicine," said Ma, who asked not to be identified. Every month she visits Tongren Hospital to collect her father's prescription for a cardiovascular condition.

"I used to pay 500 yuan ($80) each time, but now it's gone down to just 400 yuan," she said.