Beijing, Aug 7 (IANS): health ministry has launched a TV channel that will promote awareness, education and prevention of diseases.

The China Health Television (CHTV) has so far reached more than 200 million people in 70 cities, Health Minister Chen Zhu was quoted as saying by the China Daily.

"The channel will promote a healthy lifestyle and behaviour among the Chinese public," he said.

He said the current health-promotion materials and TV programmes in the country need to be regulated as some are "motivated purely by commercial interests".

"The knowledge has to be impartial and scientifically correct," the minister said.

A 2009 survey held by the Chinese Health Education Centre under the ministry found that health awareness among Chinese people was poor.

Only 18 percent of those surveyed knew how to read a drug description properly, and less than three percent had any idea what kind of diseases flies, mosquitoes, rats and cockroaches can spread.