Development creates new health challenges in China
Monday, November 13, 2017
Subject
Healthcare in China.
Significance
In less than two decades China has expanded public health insurance coverage to 95% of the population from 10%, halved the share of medical expenses borne by individuals and more than doubled the availability of hospital beds to a level that exceeds the United States and United Kingdom. However, new challenges now loom.
Impacts
- New fiscal arrangements may be required to address the budgetary pressure from healthcare.
- The heavy budgetary burden of meeting China’s healthcare needs will drive the expansion of the private sector to provide healthcare.
- For employers, private healthcare is an attractive bonus that promises to attract employees.
- Strong growth of China’s healthcare market offers investment opportunities for foreign companies.
- Weaknesses in the domestic healthcare system will lead Chinese nationals to seek treatment overseas.