More measures expected in China’s healthcare reform
17-Oct-14, ChinaDaily USA
Reforms in the Chinese healthcare industry over the last five years have seen improved services but yet to deliver "significant changes" that address the key issues of access and affordability, according to a healthcare expert.
"The objective of [the reforms launched in 2009] was to build a basic healthcare system that provided a safe, convenient and affordable healthcare service for everyone," Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations said Wednesday in a speech on the Chinese healthcare industry in New York.
Huang said the reforms have led to improved public health services, like free immunizations and some [no-cost] medical checkup programs, but the reforms have failed to solve the problems of access and affordability.