Providing health insurance in rural china: from research to policy.

Development of the rural health insurance system in China.

Ever since the collapse of the once successful Rural Cooperative Medical System (RCMS) in the early 1980s, when China transformed its system of collective agricultural production to private production, many rural communities, especially the poorer residents, have faced several major problems. In 1993, insurance coverage for rural residents was already low, at 12.8%. By 1998, only 9.5% of the ru...

A Response to the Commentary Entitled: “Addressing the Shortage of Health Professionals in Rural China: Issues and Progress”

Have Health Human Resources Become More Equal Between Rural and Urban Areas after the New Reform?

The lack of health human resources is a global issue. China also faces the same issue, in addition to the equity of human resources allocation. With the launch of new healthcare reform of China in 2009, have the issues been improved? Relevant data from China Health Statistical Yearbook and a qualitative study show that the unequal allocation of health human resources is getting worse than before.

How does the New Cooperative Medical Scheme influence health service utilization? A study in two provinces in rural China

BACKGROUND Many countries are developing health financing mechanisms to pursue the goal of universal coverage. In China, a rural health insurance system entitled New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) is being developed since 2003. Although there is concern about whether the NCMS will influence the serious situation of inequity in health service utilization in rural China, there is only limited ...

Social capital and farmer's willingness-to-join a newly established community-based health insurance in rural China.

In 2002, China announced a new funding strategy that would reestablish community-based health insurance (CHI) in rural areas, whereby the Chinese government will entice farmers' participation by providing each participant an annual subsidy of 10-20 Yuan (US 1.25-2.50 dollars). However, there is no evidence demonstrating how many farmers would be willing-to-join (WTJ) such newly developed govern...