China's Health Care System

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, from the 1950s to the 1980s, China made remarkable gains in health and life expectancy due to a broad, publicly financed and implemented disease prevention strategies with accessible health services. Nonetheless, beginning in the early 1990s, mortality rates increased in some very poor areas. The author points out that tuberculosis remains a major killer and cause of morbidity; other infectious and endemic diseases pose significant burdens, particularly in rural areas where the major causes of death are associated with maternal and child health; additional problems are the recent growing incidence of HIV/AIDS and the SARS epidemic. The paper stresses that basic public health functions cannot be provided reliably through reliance on market mechanisms and that public financing is required to benefit the whole of society.

From the Paper:

"China's image around the world was damaged due to the government's evasive and tardy response to the challenge of the SARS virus that led to the disease spreading nationwide and worldwide. By the middle of 2003, the disease had spread to more than thirty countries, and the rapidity of the spread triggered fears around the globe resulting in about one hundred countries enforcing border control in an attempt to keep the virus out. More than ten countries announced that Chinese citizens would not be allowed to enter their countries, while the rest imposed restrictions on Chinese citizens going to their countries to prevent a SARS outbreak."

More papers on China's Health Care System:

• Analytical Essay # 138263 : "Health Care in China"
• Article Review # 57310 : "Global Health Care"
• Comparison Essay # 147324 : "National Health Care in the U.K. and China"

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