August 10, 2004
NO MORE HAN OUTS?:
China debates medical reform, privatization (Yan Hua, 8/11/04, Asia Times)
China is debating how far and how fast to reform its medical and health-care system, once considered a pillar of socialist society that provided adequate health care to all at no cost. That clearly doesn't work and the issue now appears to be privatization, commercialization and profit, though the government is not expected completely to bow out of what is considered a strategic sector of economy and society.One well-respected newspaper, Jinbao in Shenzhen, says there are two clear choices for hospitals: go commercial or go private. It's not so simple, and there's a political tug-of-war about reform.
While private Chinese investment is expected, it is not known whether China will yet open its health-care system, considered a strategic sector, to foreign investors. If it does, expect droves of foreign investors who know that China's 1.3 billion people, especially the 800 million-plus poor in the countryside, need decent health care and urban dwellers need better health care.
Which would make Communist China's health care system freer than the Democrats propose ours be. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 10, 2004 2:21 PM
Mr. Judd;
Isn't that straight out admission that free universal health care "clearly doesn't work" the most interesting statement in the article?
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at August 10, 2004 2:54 PMThe interesting thing is that China can admit it and the Kerry Party can't.
Posted by: oj at August 10, 2004 2:58 PMI was in Beijing last April with my eighth grade daughter and her class. The President of the San Francisco School Board (a Democrat, natch) was with us. He was beside himself at China's 'abandonment' of its commitment to universal health care and other retreats from Communist programs. When Communist China isn't Red enough for our school board, is it any wonder why our public schools are in trouble?
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at August 10, 2004 3:34 PMMy folks are currently in the middle of a month-long mission in China with a medical team that performs much-needed eye surgeries on people of all ages. Some days they do as many as 6 operations. After just 2 weeks there, the stories they relay about the results of "free" healthcare are staggering.
Posted by: John Resnick at August 10, 2004 4:12 PMRobert Heinlein said it best:
"Anything free is either worthless or turns out to cost twice as much in the long run."