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Summary of 8 pages for the course Governance and Politics of China at School of Oriental and African Studies (Coursework material)
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Government and Politics of ChinaEvaluation of China’s effort in the realm of public health.
INTRODUCTION
During the past year the globe as a whole has been put at test with the outbreak of a new
virus that has soon turned into a pandemic. The exponential spread of Covid-19 highlighted
nowadays globalization which portrays the extreme interconnectedness between states and
people and sheds light on the crucial role played by the health sector. This sector, often
neglected by governments in several countries, is in fact key to social and economic
development. As the Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated on several occasions “there is
no prosperity without healthy population” (Wang et al., 2019). Public health system is the
major healthcare provider and plays a crucial role in the development of health sector in
China. Despite aggressive feelings against this country related to questionable first reactions
in dealing with this SARS-CoV-2, it is undeniable that China has been able to manage the
health crisis when much of the world is still grappling with it.
Bearing this in mind, this paper assesses China’s endeavour in managing several challenges
that put at jeopardy its public health system since the 1990s. Firstly, the essay will analyse
China public health system’s structure demonstrating that it is very effective in managing
large scale crisis. Secondly, it will evaluate the role played by the Chinese government within
the public health system, analysing the various waves of reform that have been
implemented to ameliorate and further develop public healthcare provision focusing on the
peculiar case of THCs. Thirdly, the essay will discuss the ways the Chinese government and
the health sector have managed the SARS crisis of 2003. Fourthly, it will critically analyse
some of the still existing challenges that the public health sector is facing. Ultimately, it will
, discuss China’s response to Covid-19 and the lessons that should have already been learnt
from the SARS outbreak.
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM STRUCTURE
In China the public health sector is organized both at a central and at a local level exactly
like the government due to the country’s territorial extension and demography. The two
levels of power have different interests and capabilities: the central level being more
interested in regime stability gives policies guidelines to be implemented locally and then
delegates substantial discretionary power in health insurance reform to accommodate the
different needs and local circumstances to local official, who in turn owe their political
careers to the upper-level authority and proactively adapt health care policies locally ().
While this division proved to be effective in managing large scale crisis emergencies, like the
SARS crisis of 2003 and the current pandemic, by strong and effective mobilization and
implementation of resources and policies, it cannot be said the same when acting under
normal circumstances. Indeed, the highly fragmented bureaucratic system that results from
this separation of powers complicates interdepartmental coordination and information flow
that explains the mismanagement of several health care reforms and crises (He, Shi and Liu,
2020). China’s public health consists of disease control system, health supervision and
enforcement system and public health emergency response system (Wang et al., 2019).
Disease prevention and control system is China’s major system to provide public health
services. Furthermore, the public health system is characterized by a three-tiered network
through which health institutions provide healthcare at county, township and village levels.
This system worked effectively during the early days of the public health system providing
more accessible and equitable healthcare to Chinese resident both in rural and urban areas.
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