An update on China Healthcare Reform

Xinhua news writes today that China’s State Council issued the medical reform plan of 2009, the first component of its three year health reform plan.

calls for acceleration in building basic medical insurance system and essential drug system, and promotion on primary health care facilities and pilot reform of state-run hospitals.
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about one hundred state-run hospitals chosen from 12 cities will be designated as the pilot hospitals for the reform.
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nearly six million retirees from bankrupt stated-owned enterprises will be added to basic health insurance.
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the number of employees and citizens in urban areas joining basic health insurance is to reach 390 million by the end of this year, an increase of 72 million from a year earlier.
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986 county hospitals, 3,549 town hospitals and 1,154 community medical service centers will be established.

To appreciate what China is trying to do with its health care system, think about all of the complications, both political and logistical, that are happening in the American system that is ‘only’ seeking to cover 45 million uninsured people.  By comparison, China is taking on a task nearly twenty times as hard, seeking to cover around 800 million uninsured.

Interestingly enough, starting today, I will be attending a series of classes at Peking University on the issue of health insurance finance reform.  The classes are being taught by Duke Global Health school professors.  I will be providing day to day coverage of ideas.  So come back often.