Research Study On A New Rural Cooperative Medical System For Changsha County

The new rural cooperative medical system is a rural medical mutual help system organized , guided and supported by local government of Changsha County. Rural citizens join in it voluntarily. Individuals, collectives and government multilaterally finance the system. It is an important component of China's rural social security system. Since China's reform and opening up, living standard in rural areas has been greatly improved. Whearas, compared with urban areas, the phenomenon of poverty duo to illness or returning to poverty duo to illess is very serious in rural areas. Since 2002, some chosen areas with different economic levels have been probing into and implemeting different new rural medical systems by capitalizing on former rural cooperative medical system experience. Changsha County was selected among the first counties in 2003 to implement new rural cooperative medical system in Hunan Province. After more than four years of operation, Changsha county has made certain achievements and acquired some experience. Neverthless, there are still difficulties awaiting around the corner for the program. The thesis provides a case study and analysis on the new rural cooperative medical system being implemented in Changsha County. It also offers some suggestions and solutions to problems existing in the new system. The conclusion of the study falls in three parts. First, local government plays a corner stone role in organising the system innovation. Second, operation mechanism innovation is crucial for the system innovation. Third,administration mechanism innovation is the difficult part for the system innovation.