More than 400,000 orphans and children from underprivileged families in China have been given free insurance to cover 12 critical illnesses, according to the China Children Insurance Foundation (CCIF), a charity that aims to extend insurance coverage to all China's vulnerable children.

In cooperation with the ministry, the foundation launched a joint program in 2009 to give all 712,000 orphans registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, under the age of 18, free medical insurance.

The 12 major illnesses covered include malignant tumors, illnesses requiring organ or stem cell transplants, acute kidney failure, aplastic anemia, acute hepatitis and infantile paralysis.