Market reforms and China's health care system
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Social Science and Medicine
Publication Date
10-1-1995
Volume
41
Issue
8
First Page
1065
Last Page
1072
Keywords
health care systems, Chinese health care, health system reform, China
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the medical care system in the People's Republic of China, and assesses the impact of market reforms on the evolution of the medical care system. There is clear indication that China is moving towards a ‘prepaid’ system closely related to the HMO of the west. Decentralization of the medical care system administration has paved the way for a diversity of local experiments with different ways of reform, but the main direction is towards a integration of decisions over medical services and the insurance function. It is argued that reforms in this direction, while retaining a degree of socialization, will improve the efficiency and equity aspects of the Chinese medical care system.
DOI
10.1016/0277-9536(94)00422-P
Print ISSN
02779536
E-ISSN
18735347
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 1995 Elsevier Science Ltd
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Ho, L. S. (1995). Market reforms and China's health care system. Social Science & Medicine, 41(8), 1065-1072. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(94)00422-P