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

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.

Retrospective analysis of mortality among children under 5 years of age in Huangshi over the period 2002–2022, China

“… Enhancement of Basic Medical Services : China has committed to raising the quality of primary medical care, which includes building facilities and training healthcare personnel to ensure more children receive timely and effective medical assistance [ 17 , 18 ]. Vaccination Program : China has launched a widespread childhood vaccination initiative, covering vaccines for infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and polio.…”

“…Enhancement of Basic Medical Services : China has committed to raising the quality of primary medical care, which includes building facilities and training healthcare personnel to ensure more children receive timely and effective medical assistance [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Decomposing differences in the chronic disease condition between rural and urban older adults in China: a cross-sectional analysis

“…Even worse, long-term drinking of alcohol can cause osteoporosis, bone pain, and fracture. The harm of drinking alcohol to the human body is various (55). Acetaldehyde, a non-oxidative metabolite of alcohol, has been identified as a kind of carcinogen by the cancer research organization of the World Health Organization, including oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and so on (56).…”

Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of Person-Centered Primary Care Measures for Patients in Family Doctor Contract Services within Mainland China

“…However, this focus shifted during the revenuedriven healthcare reforms of the 1970-1980s, which transitioned towards a disease-centric model of care 7 . Recently, China's primary care framework has evolved into a model signi cantly in uenced by government-led planning and the structuring of healthcare institutions: despite an extensive network of nearly one million primary care facilities, which ensures the delivery of accessible health services to marginalized communities, the system's practice model and scope are less de ned, especially when compared to the specialist outpatient clinics of general hospitals 8,9 . Moreover, the scope and quality of primary care are further compromised by a signi cant shortage of experienced practitioners, limited medical equipment, and a constrained range of pharmaceutical options 10 .…”