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The Chinese health care regulatory institutions in an era of transition

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  • Fang, Jing

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of Chinese health care regulation in an era of transition. It describes the major health care regulatory institutions operating currently in China and analyzes the underlying factors. The paper argues that in the transition from a planned to a market economy, the Chinese government has been employing a hybrid approach where both old and new institutions have a role in the management of emerging markets, including the health care market. This approach is consistent with the incremental reform strategy adopted by the Party-state. Although a health care regulatory framework has gradually taken shape, the framework is incomplete, with a particular lack of emphasis on professional self-regulation. In addition, its effectiveness is limited despite the existence of many regulatory institutions. In poor rural areas, the effectiveness of the regulatory framework is further undermined or distorted by the extremely difficult financial position that local governments find themselves in. The interpretations of the principle of 'rule of law' by policy makers and officials at different levels and the widespread informal network of relations between known individuals (Guanxi) play an important role in the operation of the regulatory framework. The findings of this paper reveal the complex nature of regulating health care in transitional China.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Jing, 2008. "The Chinese health care regulatory institutions in an era of transition," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(4), pages 952-962, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:4:p:952-962
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bloom, Gerald & Xingyuan, Gu, 1997. "Health sector reform: Lessons from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 351-360, August.
    2. Saltman, Richard B., 2002. "Regulating incentives: the past and present role of the state in health care systems," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 1677-1684, June.
    3. Xiao-Ping Chen & Chao C. Chen, 2004. "On the Intricacies of the Chinese Guanxi: A Process Model of Guanxi Development," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 305-324, September.
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    1. Lewis Husain & Gerald Bloom & Yue Xiao, 2023. "Building policy capacity for managing rapid, complex change in China’s health system," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 42(1), pages 28-48.
    2. Chaojie Liu & Timothy Bartram & Sandra G. Leggat, 2020. "Link of Patient Care Outcome to Occupational Differences in Response to Human Resource Management: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study on Hospital Doctors and Nurses in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Bloom, Gerald, 2011. "Building institutions for an effective health system: Lessons from China's experience with rural health reform," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(8), pages 1302-1309, April.
    4. Sun, Xiaoyun & Jackson, Sukhan & Carmichael, Gordon A. & Sleigh, Adrian C., 2009. "Prescribing behaviour of village doctors under China's New Cooperative Medical Scheme," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(10), pages 1775-1779, May.

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