From Beijing Review:
In recent years, issues on the medical system reform have gained much attention. This is related to the rapid development of other economic sectors, for example, manufacturing, agriculture and domestic trade. The people’s demand for food, clothing and even education has been satisfied, in terms of quantity. Against this background, inefficient medical services, a problem that has long remained unsolved, have become more of an issue.
Some people criticize my emphasis on the role of the market, but I still believe that both the government and the market have a role to play. Currently, we need to discuss the basic problem, that is, what factors are preventing people from enjoying satisfactory medical services, what has led to the present conundrum in China’s medical system and what is the way out? [Full Text]
Zhou Qiren (周其仁) is a Professor at the China Center for Economic Research at Beijing University.
