Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2014;(6):6-9

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-2982.2014.06.002

Obstacles and strategies on bottom-up cascading healthcare practice in China

Youde GUO ; Hong LIANG

Keywords

Health resource allocation; Price mechanism; Bottom-up cascading medical system; Primary health care

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

In this paper, we describe mismatch, chaos, and disorder behavior during healthcare seeking. Such structural imbalances, scarcity and surplus make healthcare services less efficient. We give reasons for such phenomena in terms of long-term effects of health resource allocation policy-making and implementation, inherent de-fects within healthcare insurance, incomplete market development, and cultural issues. We then propose four policy strategies, including rational price mechanism, strict referral healthcare system, confidence in basic healthcare facili-ties, and proper healthcare cultures. These will restore orderly healthcare behavior and help realize expectations for the current healthcare reform in China.