Current healthcare system Healthcare in China

all major cities have hospitals specializing in different fields, , equipped modern facilities. residents of urban areas not provided free healthcare, , must either pay treatment or purchase health insurance. quality of hospitals varies. best medical care in china available in foreign-run or joint venture western-style medical facilities international staff available in beijing, shanghai, guangzhou, , few other large cities. highly expensive; treatment there can cost ten times more public hospital. public hospitals , clinics available in chinese cities. quality varies location; best treatment can found in public city-level hospitals, followed smaller district-level clinics. many public hospitals in major cities have so-called v.i.p. wards or gaogan bingfang. these feature reasonably up-to-date medical technology , skilled staff. v.i.p. wards provide medical services foreigners , have english-speaking doctors , nurses. v.i.p. wards typically charge higher prices other hospital facilities, still cheap western standards. in addition medical facilities providing modern care, traditional chinese medicine used, , there chinese medicine hospitals , treatment facilities located throughout country. dental care, cosmetic surgery, , other health-related services @ western standards available in urban areas, though costs vary.

historically, in rural areas, healthcare available in clinics providing rudimentary care, poorly trained medical personnel , little medical equipment or medications, though rural areas had far higher-quality medical care others. however, quality of rural health services has improved dramatically since 2009. in increasing trend, healthcare residents of rural areas unable travel long distances reach urban hospital provided family doctors travel homes of patients, covered government.

reform of health delivery system in urban areas of china has prompted concerns demand , utilization of community health services centres (chc); recent study, however, found insured patients less use private clinics , more use chc.

despite introduction of western style medical facilities , implementation of national essential drug policy, prc has several emerging public health problems, include problems result of pollution, progressing hiv-aids epidemic, hundreds of millions of cigarette smokers, , increase in obesity among population. hiv epidemic, in addition usual routes of infection, exacerbated in past unsanitary practices used in collection of blood in rural areas. problem tobacco complicated concentration of cigarette sales in government controlled monopoly. government, dependent on tobacco revenue, seems hesitant in response , may encourage seen government websites. hepatitis b infection widespread in mainland china, 10% of population contracting disease. hepatitis researchers link hepatitis infections lower ratio of female births. if link confirmed, partially explain china s gender imbalance. program initiated in 2002 attempt on next 5 years vaccinate newborns in mainland china.

strains of avian flu outbreaks in recent years among local poultry , birds, along number of citizens, have caused great concern china , other countries. while virus animal-human transmissible (with 2 documented cases of human-human have been present known of scientists), experts expect avian flu pandemic affect region should virus morph human-human transmissible.

a more recent outbreak pig-human transmission of streptococcus suis bacteria in 2005, has led 38 deaths in , around sichuan province, unusually high number. although bacteria exists in other pig rearing countries, pig-human transmission has been reported in china.

as of 2004, in more undeveloped areas advised drink bottled water cholera, among other diseases, spread through water supply. of 2012, food , water safety remains issue.

another major problem black ambulances , or illegal, privately run, for-profit ambulance services. there shortage of ambulances belonging hospitals in major cities, many private businessmen operating fleets of unauthorized ambulances, staffed untrained personnel , no medical equipment, , charging patients. despite government crackdown, number of private ambulances growing.

unaffordable medications gaping hole in chinese safety net. forces workers save as possible in order weather family medical emergencies, acts depress domestic consumption, leaving no alternative traditional unsustainable export , investment driven economic model.

a cross-sectional study between 2003 , 2011 showed remarkable increases in health insurance coverage , inpatient reimbursement accompanied increased use , coverage. increases in services use particularly important in rural areas , @ hospitals. major advances have been made in achieving equal access insurance coverage, inpatient reimbursement, , basic health services, notably hospital delivery, , use of outpatient , inpatient care.

nowadays, substantial urbanisation, attention on health care has been changed. urbanisation offers opportunities improvements in population health in china (such access improved health care , basic infrastructure) , substantial health risks including air pollution, occupational , traffic hazards, , risks conferred changing diets , activity. communicable infections should re-focused on.