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Health Care Science 2022, 1(3): 146-159 https://doi.org/10.1002/hcs2.14
Review | Open Access | Issue | Published: 12 September 2022

Primary health care in China: A decade of development after the 2009 health care reform

Show Author's Information You Wu1,2,  Zeyu Zhang1,2,  Ning Zhao2,  Yue Yan2,  Lina Zhao2,  Qi Song2,  Rong Ma2,  Changfeng Li2,  Jinyi Li2,  Suibin Liu2,  Xinran Bi2,  Zongjiu Zhang1,2 ( )
School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Institute for Hospital Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Keywords:
policy, primary health care, public health service, universal health coverage
Cite this article:
Wu Y, Zhang Z, Zhao N, et al. Primary health care in China: A decade of development after the 2009 health care reform. Health Care Science, 2022, 1(3): 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1002/hcs2.14
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Abstract Full text About this article

Over 40 years ago, primary health care (PHC) was defined in the Alma‐Ata Declaration as a critical component of the health care system to address the basic health demand of the people. In China, the Government attaches great importance to health care at the primary level. After the launch of the historical Reform of the Medical and Health Care System in 2009, the PHC system in China has witnessed major progress and breakthroughs, especially in its steadily increased capacity, continuously improved accessibility, and betterment in equality. In this review, we summarized published literatures and official policies, synthesized data from the electronic registration information system of the National Health Commission, national statistical reports, and yearbooks in health care. The review is intended to describe the systematic development of PHC in China in the last decade. The main results include: the solid national policy foundation, increasing number of PHC institutions and workforce, better training of PHC professionals, major achievements in primary health indicators, government financial support to PHC institutions, improved PHC budgeting and insurance coverage, and the advancement of supporting technologies. Challenges and prospects are also discussed.


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About this article

Primary health care in China: A decade of development after the 2009 health care reform

Show Author's information You Wu1,2, Zeyu Zhang1,2, Ning Zhao2, Yue Yan2, Lina Zhao2, Qi Song2, Rong Ma2, Changfeng Li2, Jinyi Li2, Suibin Liu2, Xinran Bi2, Zongjiu Zhang1,2 ( )
School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Institute for Hospital Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Abstract

Over 40 years ago, primary health care (PHC) was defined in the Alma‐Ata Declaration as a critical component of the health care system to address the basic health demand of the people. In China, the Government attaches great importance to health care at the primary level. After the launch of the historical Reform of the Medical and Health Care System in 2009, the PHC system in China has witnessed major progress and breakthroughs, especially in its steadily increased capacity, continuously improved accessibility, and betterment in equality. In this review, we summarized published literatures and official policies, synthesized data from the electronic registration information system of the National Health Commission, national statistical reports, and yearbooks in health care. The review is intended to describe the systematic development of PHC in China in the last decade. The main results include: the solid national policy foundation, increasing number of PHC institutions and workforce, better training of PHC professionals, major achievements in primary health indicators, government financial support to PHC institutions, improved PHC budgeting and insurance coverage, and the advancement of supporting technologies. Challenges and prospects are also discussed.

Keywords: policy, primary health care, public health service, universal health coverage

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Received: 03 August 2022
Accepted: 16 August 2022
Published: 12 September 2022
Issue date: December 2022

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© 2022 The Authors.

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