What kind of system of healthcare does China have?

[Mind_your_head]

Did some googling....didn't find a definitive answer. How about Russia?

China and Russia...two big "american boogey-men", not to mention "big players" on the the world stage.

Seems to make some sense to understand the 'competition' and what kind of healthcare system they have in place (or not in-place).

[HeresyLives]

1. Neither of them have one.

Neither of them are at the 'social safety net' stage yet. India isn't either.

[subterranean]

2. China used to have universal health care, but dropped it

back in the 1980s. They basically privatized the system. But they've run into many of the same problems we're having in the U.S. -- lack of access, soaring costs, etc. -- so now they're planning to re-institute universal health care. Interestingly, one of their reasons is to stimulate consumer spending.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/world/asia/22iht-beijing.1.19590543.html

[Hekate]

4. Under Mao a system of "barefoot doctors" serving rural villages was started...

They weren't really doctors as such, but had some basic medical training and were given medical supplies and antibiotics, and were several steps better than nothing. I seem to recall it being dropped around the 1980s -- pretty much abandoning the rural areas.

Access to quality medical care in China has and remains very uneven, afaik. Although they have some knowledge and techniques that we might profitably learn from, when it comes to actual organizing principles I would not look to China for a viable system for our Western nation.

Hekate

[bridgit]

3. Despite oil wealth, Russia faces huge health care problems

Despite oil wealth, Russia faces huge health care problems

MOSCOW — When Karen Papiyants lost his leg in a road accident last year, his medical nightmare was only beginning.

Although like any Russian he was entitled to free treatment, he says the doctors strongly suggested he pay $4,500 into their St. Petersburg hospital's bank account, or be deprived proper care - and perhaps not even survive.

Faced with that choice, relatives of the 37-year-old truck driver scrambled to scrape together the money. But Papiyants said that did not stop the nursing staff from leaving him unattended for most of the night and giving him painkillers only after he screamed in agony.

"It's nothing but blackmail and extortion on the part of doctors," Papiyants said.

In theory Russians are supposed to receive free basic medical care. But patients and experts say doctors, nurses and surgeons routinely demand payments - even bribes - from those they treat. And critics say the practice persists despite Russia's booming economy and its decision to spend billions to improve the health care system.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-russhealth.4.6394606.html


Progress with health care has been genuine but incomplete

In many respects, health outcomes in China have improved tremendously over past decades, in no small part thanks to the near eradication of some traditional infectious diseases. Overall, health outcomes are not so different from those in lower-income OECD countries such as Mexico and Turkey, despite lower incomes in China. However, health status varies widely across the country and in general death rates from chronic diseases have been on the rise, not least owing to changes in life styles, including greater tobacco consumption.

http://www.oecd.org/document/13/0,3343,en_2649_34117_44482445_1_1_1_1,00.html

[Go2Peace]

6. Russia's problems are related to their libertarian economy. see the next reply

[bridgit]

7. The reply above refers to what you are referring to

[Go2Peace]

5. Russia has universal healthcare, their problems are not related to "healthcare"

they are related to corruption and lack of funds.

It is always interesting how we "armchair quarterback" about this kind of thing. Has anyone else lived there (yes I have).

Russia has serious infrastructure problems, primarily because they were convinced by the world Republican movement, the World Bank and the IMF, to structure their economy after the collapse to be close to a libertarian world view. They and the other former countries of the Soviet Union are libertarian experiments. They have very small tax bases and minimalist economic laws. Because of that their infrastructure is starving.

They have a sort of universal health care and they have a very high number of doctors per capita. There are Public, and generally free, clinics and hospitals in every city. Generally they are basic but adequate. What they are missing in technology and other resources they sometimes make up in other ways. For instance, if you have a serious ailment, you are likely to have 4 or 5 Drs pour over your charts and situation to determine the best therapy.

Having said that, we definitely have a better system here. But their system overall, while inadequate, is more accessable on many cases. If you have no money and a serious disease nobody will turn you away. If you need an operation, it will be done, but you will be in a room more like a dorm with 6 beds. You will have to pay for a private room. I do not believe medications are paid for, but generally they are much cheaper than here and most can come up with the funds for them.

I am always amazed at the prices for pharmacuticals there. Incredibly cheap. makes me realize how much money our firms make from us.