Chinese Healthcare Reform

Abstract

This article discusses the Chinese healthcare reforms of the past decade and their relation to broader shifts in Chinese development. It examines the historical context, theoretical framework, and major achievements of the reforms, focusing on the three-year healthcare reform push from 2009 to 2011. During that period, the Chinese government implemented reforms with great efficacy, including expansion of health insurance coverage to 95 percent of the population. In a limited timeframe, the Chinese government restructured the healthcare system, placing an emphasis on primary care. However, as this article argues, the more significant achievements include a redefinition of the government’s role in social development and an exploration of more open policy-making procedures among top government officials.