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Health System Reform In China: An Assessment Of Recent Trends

Author

Listed:
  • ǺKE BLOMQVIST

    (Department of Economics, 1 Arts Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117570, Singapore)

  • JIWEI QIAN

    (Department of Economics, 1 Arts Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117570, Singapore)

Abstract

In this paper, we first briefly review the changes that the Chinese health care system has undergone since the early 1980s. We then describe the major current health policy initiatives in urban and rural areas and discuss likely scenarios for their evolution over time. Using comparisons with international experience regarding different institutional arrangements in the health care sector, we also discuss whether the approaches taken in China are likely to strengthen the health care system in terms of efficiency and equity. Our conclusion is that in order to predict how effectively China's future health care system will perform in the future, one must have more information about what role the state (central government) will play, as regulator, partial funder and direct provider in the system. We believe that the best strategy at present is to allow the development of a mixed model with significant roles for both the state and the private sector, in both the supply of health care services and the provision of health insurance.

Suggested Citation

  • Ǻke Blomqvist & Jiwei Qian, 2008. "Health System Reform In China: An Assessment Of Recent Trends," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 53(01), pages 5-26.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:serxxx:v:53:y:2008:i:01:n:s0217590808002811
    DOI: 10.1142/S0217590808002811
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yutaka Imai, 2002. "Health Care Reform in Japan," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 321, OECD Publishing.
    2. Oecd, 2004. "Private Health Insurance in OECD Countries: The Benefits and Costs for Individuals and Health Systems," Financial Market Trends, OECD Publishing, vol. 2004(2), pages 125-197.
    3. Office of Health Economics, 2007. "The Economics of Health Care," For School 001490, Office of Health Economics.
    4. Francesca Colombo & Nicole Tapay, 2004. "Private Health Insurance in OECD Countries: The Benefits and Costs for Individuals and Health Systems," OECD Health Working Papers 15, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Almas Heshmati & Biwei Su & Seon-Ae Kim, 2015. "Measurement and Analysis of Well-Being in Developed Regions in China," China Economic Policy Review (CEPR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(01), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Blomqvist, Åke, 2009. "Health system reform in China: What role for private insurance?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 605-612, December.
    3. repec:rre:publsh:v:38:y:2008:i:3:p:381-93 is not listed on IDEAS

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