Development of China’s Community Healthcare Network: An Effort to Improve Equity in Health

Presenter: Wei Yu

Abstract

This article evaluates the recent development of China’s community-based healthcare network, a strategy to improve health equity by the government. It reviews the policies since 1997 and summarizes the strong joint action from seven government agencies in 2006. A case study using data from two cities show that community health centers provide services mainly in immunization, management of chronic diseases, health education, health management, rehabilitation, and primary medical care. The focused targets of community health centers are children, elderly, disabled, and people under poverty. Rural immigrants are also main users of community health facilities. With better financing capability (65 vs. 9 RMB per resident) and a government backup for any loss, community centers in city A provide more hig-cost services than city B such as house visits (Mean: 275 vs 6 times per 10000 residents) and house beds (Mean: 52 vs 1 beds per 10000 residents). Both services are the most demanded by residents. With free or highly subsidized services in preventive and primary care, community health centers play an important role in reducing health equity. The effects of community health centers could be further improved if the government can link its funding to specific tasks and enhance performance evaluation.