China needs National Health Insurance
On February 3rd, 2015, China Democracy Party members held a rally, “China needs National Insurance” in front of Chinese Consulate General in such a cold and windy day.
On January 19, 2015, World Health Organization issued the "2014 Global status report on noncommunicable diseases," pointed out: more than 3 million Chinese people die prematurely - before the age of 70 died of heart disease, lung disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes issues such as non-communicable diseases.
At the same day as the World Health Organization report released, the Chinese government adopted a national plan for the health service system, particularly on health care services in rural areas put forward specific measures, the goal is to "allow rural residents to get convenient, inexpensive, safe basic medical services. "
These measures include: Follow the standard of not less than one per thousand of the population served with rural doctors in the country. Take public buildings private, government grants and other ways to support the construction of village clinics and purchase of equipment.
Another classification of various types of public hospital setting, located on the county in principle a comprehensive county-run hospitals and a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and municipal and provincial reasonable set by population size and the provincial cities do run general hospital.
But in fact, this is just a piece of paper, because China does not have universal health care!
China is in urgent need of a universal health insurance now!
Universal health insurance, generally referred to as "universal health care" or "health insurance" is a compulsory insurance policy benefits, but also a disguised form of social insurance taxes.
The reason National Health insurance is necessary is because the cost of treatment of a disease is often several times or even several times the cost of its prevention. If we implement the health insurance policy, you need to use less health care fund for disease prevention and health education, can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.
Health care system based on the degree of government authority to intervene, and generally can distinguish three different systems.
Public medical system:
In the United Kingdom as a representative. Since 1948 until 1989 the British health care reform only, physicians employed by the civil service, public hospitals, medical expenses budgeted by the government cope. However, due to public medical system has the disadvantage of inefficient public office, in 1990, the British began to introduce competition mechanism more efficient, competitive and open private medical institutes. In addition, 157 ROC Constitution stipulates that the state order to improve national health, health care should be universal implementation of utilities and public medical system; however this provision was not implemented.
Social insurance system:
Germany first, medical expenses are paid by the sickness insurance fund, and the source of the sickness insurance funds by the government, employers, people shared. Features for financial independence, not to be confused with other government spending. Because of the social insurance system to combine financial sustainability, social equity and efficiency of health care, in order to a system based on public health insurance is also used in many countries. However, there is usually because of the risk of social insurance agent health spending surge caused the problem, so in order to control financial risks, many countries have also taken the total payment made to avoid financial bankruptcy.
The free market:
As the representative of the United States. US health care spending by private general insurance company will pay for health care, the federal government provides only for the elderly and the poor in low-income health insurance. In 2009 the US Congress passed health insurance reform bill, which requires people to be added in 2014 triggered multiple insurance provisions unconstitutional state government filed suit. Therefore whether the United States is to maintain the free market, or to the social insurance system, remains to be seen. Taiwan＇s health care system in the free market before 1995.
At present, China is still in the development stage to establish a comprehensive and integrated health care, and health care concept has not been established. However, dramatic changes in society, we are required to promote universal health care by health insurance.
First, the national disease spectrum dominated by acute infectious diseases, rapid changes in chronic non-communicable diseases as the main. Changes in disease spectrum make health focus from "cure" the disease to "control" the disease changes, effectively increasing chronic disease prevention and control, become a major task of doctors and citizens. Therefore, the development of national health insurance from Medicare to follow the changing needs of the disease spectrum.
Second, population aging, family nucleus and Family Separation serious situation, we are required by Medicare to universal health care development. From 2000 to 2010, China and the proportion of the population aged 60 and above accounted for China＇s total population increased from 10.33% to 13.26%, with an average population per household declined from 3.44 people to 3.10 people. Meanwhile, the Chinese people become increasingly serious situation of family separation. In 2010, the Chinese household registration and residence are inconsistent and leave the household registration in more than half the population of 260 million people, compared with 2000 increased 81.03%. This means that the children of the town away from the rural left-behind elderly living alone or difficult to obtain child care, health care and child care just to make up for the absence of this issue. Thus, compared to health care, health care more responsive to needs of modern society.
Third, the Chinese nationals on the quality of life in the pursuit of health and longevity, we are required by Medicare to universal health care development.
According to statistics, the Chinese mainland age-specific prevalence of chronic diseases, 35-44 for 12.17%, 25.95% for 45-54 years, 55-64 years of age was 41.99%, aged 65 and above is 65.44%. Chronic diseases have become a serious national impact quality of life and longevity of disease factors.
Compared to focus only on medical insurance, health insurance through disease prevention and health education to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, but also through medical care to stabilize or reduce the patient＇s condition and improve the quality of life of patients and prolong life.
Therefore, the development of national health insurance from Medicare to be Chinese nationals on the pursuit of quality of life needs.
Fourth, China is too heavy burden on the National Health and Medical Insurance Fund efficiency is not high, we are required by Medicare to universal health care development.
Chronic disease treatment length, high costs, which is one of the main causes in recent years, mainland China, the rapid growth of medical costs. According to statistics, the burden of chronic diseases in mainland China has 70% of the total burden of disease, chronic patients spent a year in hospital costs accounted for more than half of the per capita income of urban residents, accounting for about 1.5 times that of rural residents＇ per capita annual income. Studies show that in developed countries, the cost of treatment of a disease is often several times or even several times the cost of its prevention.
If we implement the health insurance policy, you need to use less health care fund for disease prevention and health education, can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.
Therefore, the development of national health insurance from health insurance to alleviate the burden on citizens, the need to increase the effectiveness of the health insurance fund.
Chinese mainland Medicare to NHI enhance the way it should be like this:
According to China＇s reality, the current Medicare system to achieve promotion to the national health insurance system, we must first establish the concept of universal health insurance, and this concept as a guide, the current unified still separate health insurance system for urban and rural areas, the system of national health insurance system rises.
Then, we have to integrate health resources, establish national health insurance protection service network.
At the same time, we must also explicitly guarantee universal health insurance in the division of responsibilities and agencies, specifically national health insurance fund raising and payment rules.
China Democratic Party: China needs universal health care!
This is constructive comments, and will benefit the whole nation.
China Democratic Party
China Democracy Journal
February 3, 2015
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