Japan vs. Italy

China's Immediate Healthcare Reform Goals

• Broaden basic healthcare coverage
• Establish a national essential drug system
• Expand infrastructure for grassroots medical networks
• Provide equal access to basic public healthcare services
• Implement pilot reform of public hospitals

China's Healthcare Reform

China began planning for healthcare reform at the start of the twenty-first century, after several decades of market opening yielded a steady decline in the scope and quality of healthcare services. Chinese citizens had become increasingly dissatisfied with the healthcare system—which suffered from chronic government underfunding, urban and rural inequalities, and overpriced, low-quality products and services. The system had consequently left much of the population without access to medical care.

China

Doctors and Hospitals

In large Chinese cities such as Shanghai or Beijing, there are an increasing number of private clinics owned and managed by Western doctors or Chinese doctors who have graduated from the USA or the UK. They treat and manage patients to Western standards, but their fees tend to be high

Emergency services do exist in China but ambulances from public hospitals are often unavailable and often do not have sophisticated equipment or well-trained personnel

There are various different types of hospitals in China. Foreign-run hospitals and clinics are the most reassuring but expensive option

Anyone - including foreigners - can use the public hospitals and clinics in China. Prices are cheap but you may not get the treatment you are used to in your own country. There is no appointment system so you need to wait in line, pay the basic fee and then pay again for each treatment required

China's Health Insurance

Three main health insurance programs:

• New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS): Rural Residents
• Employees Basic Medical Insurance (UR-BMI): Urban Employees
• Urban Residents Basic Medical Insurance(UR-BMI): Unemployed Urban Residents

Facts about China

Capital: Beijing

Population: 1.357 Billion (2013)

Location: A communist nation in East Asia

• The world's most populous country

China's Healthcare

Italy

Healthcare in China is widely available, with clinics in most villages, but in many rural areas the facilities are pretty basic. Costs at public hospitals are low and standards vary. In the major cities good medical healthcare is available, but it is well worth researching hospitals before you actually need one so you don't have to make a decision under pressure in an emergency situation.

China's Strengths and Weaknesses

Weaknesses:

• Chronic government underfunding
• Urban and rural inequalities
• Low-quality products and services

References

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/87225/E93666.pdf

Strengths:

• The expansion of basic medical insurance programs
• Establishing a national essential drug system that encompasses drug selection
• Primary medical care service infrastructure composed of rural township centers, village clinics and urban community healthcare centers
• Equal access to basic public health services by both urban and rural residents

http://www.cignaglobal.com/resources/country-guides/china

http://italy.usembassy.gov/acs/professionals/doctors/doctors-main.html

http://www.allianzworldwidecare.com/healthcare-in-italy

http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/chinas-healthcare-reform-how-far-has-it-come/

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Italy/Italy-Guide/Health/Private-Health-Insurance

https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/healthcare/pdf/emerging-trends-in-chinese-healthcare.pdf

http://www.tillvaxtanalys.se/download/18.5f097bc113eacc3d6d513e/1369033621751/direct_response_2013_03.pdf

http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/financing/healthreport/37ChinaB_YFINAL.pdf

Facts about Italy

Projections For Future Direction and Growth of China

The National Health System of Italy

Capital: Rome

Population: 59.83 million (2013)

Location: Mediterranean Coastline

Pediatric Care

The National Health System of Italy, called the Servizio Sanitario Nazioanale, offers inexpensive healthcare to all European citizens. In-patient treatments which are covered include tests, medications, surgeries during hospitalization, family doctor visits, and medical assistance provided by paediatricians and other specialists.

Physicians who specialize in one medical specialty

Emphasis on patient-centered care and allow patient and family engagement in the decision making process

Physicians with international experience and with training in patient-friendly attitude, patient confidentiality and communication

The health system is also responsible for drugs and medicines, out-patient treatments, and dental treatments

Price transparency

Italy's Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• The number of health care professionals, including general practitioners (GPs), pediatricians, hospital physicians and dentists, has generally increased in Italy over the last two decades
• People are allowed to access specialist care either through a referral by their GP or for some services, by directly booking an appointment themselves through a central booking point

Weaknesses:

• Short supply of hospital nurses
• Decrease in the number of hospital admissions

Projections For Future Direction and Growth of Italy

Projections For Future Direction and Growth of Italy

Italy's Health Insurance

Providing a national policy for the governance of

patient mobility

The reorganization of primary health care

Italy's Healthcare

If you are employed in Italy, your employer is obliged to pay for your health insurance

The integration of

health care networks for emergency care

Transfusions and transplants

Most health polices offered by Italian insurance companies are supplementary policies for Italians who are covered by the national health service, and are not intended for foreigners who are not covered and are seeking a comprehensive health policy

China vs. Italy

Italy has an affordable healthcare system and a high standard of medical assistance. Italian doctors are well-trained and very passionate about their profession, and the private hospitals are comparable with any throughout the world.

Most Italian health insurance policies either don’t pay family doctors’ fees or pay for medicines other than those provided in a hospital

Doctors and Hospitals

Private hospitals do not normally have emergency rooms. To be admitted to a private hospital, it is usually necessary to make arrangements with the hospital’s administration or directly with a doctor affiliated with the private hospital prior to being admitted.

By: Moet Weston

Patients are free to choose between public hospitals and private hospitals. Public hospitals normally provide both emergency and non-emergency services. At public hospitals, patients may receive emergency services at no cost or upon payment of a limited contribution, depending on the public hospital’s policy. Non-emergency services provided by public hospitals are subject to a fee.

Private hospitals normally have higher fees than public hospitals. Patients in private hospitals are generally required to pay fees upfront before leaving the hospital. (Patients with insurance may subsequently seek reimbursement from their insurance companies.) Some private hospitals may be “accredited” which means that fees can be reimbursed by the Italian National Health Service if the patient is an official resident in Italy and affiliated with the National Health System.