BEIJING -- China has announced that it will further simplify the approval procedures for the private sector to open medical institutions.

Approval procedures should be simplified and approval time should be reduced, according to a notice issued by nine departments including the National Development and Reform Commission.

It said private medical institutions covering areas below 300 square meters or with investments lower than 300,000 yuan (around $43,700) are exempt from complex approval procedures for firefighting facilities.

It also urged health and medical authorities to coordinate with other supervising departments to help with the location of medical institutions.