Financing health care: issues and options for China

This work assesses the state of the health care in China and addresses the problems facing the sector in terms of financial access to health care, efficiency and total cost. Although the health sector is in relatively good condition today, this study asserts the need to make policy changes to ensure universal health care coverage by either the public or the private sector over the next two decades. Chapters focus on the effects of reduced health spending on rural populations, the likely increase in health costs as the population ages, the harmful effects of tobacco use and fee-for-service provider systems.