People suffering from severe mental illnesses in Beijing will now be able to get their medicines for free, the Beijing Health Bureau announced on Friday.

"Starting this month, people with severe mental health disorders can get free medication, but in order to do so, they need to set up a profile where their permanent residential permit was issued," the bureau said.

Guo Hongli, deputy head of the Beijing Mental Health Care Institute, confirmed the news, though he said he wasn't sure which medicines would be given out for free.

The central government has asked grassroots healthcare providers, including community healthcare service centers, to set up health profiles for people with severe mental illnesses in order to monitor their conditions.