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

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