Law And Economics Analysis On The Medical Resource Allocation System In China

Medical resource allocation means how all financial, material and human resources which are related directly to treatments are allocated among participants of medical relationship. The level of fairness and efficiency showed by medical resource allocation system can affect the speed of the development and the degree of civil satisfaction. This paper uses a few economic theories, such as cost-benefit analysis and scale economy theory to analyze the law and policies in the allocation system, in order to find out the causes of existing problems.The first chapter of this paper gives an economic explanation to the medical resource allocation system. From the angle of economics, the medical resource allocation system reflects the economic relationships focused on the medical resource between medical institutions and patients. Because the products of medical resource have the character which contains quasi-public goods as well as private goods, the government has to play the part of regulator to make sure the resource is allocated fairly and effectively. There're two ways to allocate medical resources, planed economic system and market economic system. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. In real life these two ways are mixed to use. According to the classification of medical resource, this paper analyses law and policies about financing, material and human resources allocation system separately.In the second chapter, this paper describes the evolution process of the system. Since the foundation of the People's Republic of China, the medical allocation system has changed and developed by three steps:(1)From 1949 5o 1978, medical resource was allocated according to government's plan; (2)From 1978 to 1996, the market economic system was introduced into medical allocation;(3) Since 1997, the law and policies have changed greatly and frequently.Chapter 3 analyses concrete law and policies about financing, material and human resources allocation under the Chinese medical allocation system. Firstly, this paper represents the problems; Secondly, it associates problems with specific policies and law; Thirdly, it uses economic theories to give the causes.In Chapter 4, this paper discusses medical resource allocation system from an international comparative perspective. It mainly focuses on their special features: About NHS in UK, the idea on polyclinic gives us a revelation; The Japanese government sets an example on detailing financing and human allocation; The German system is renowned for its strict supervision.The last chapter gives suggestions for improving the Chinese medical allocation system. Firstly, stick to the separation of management and running principle, make the power of the relevant departments clear; Secondly, increase the proportion of government spending and encourage the foreign investment and charitable donations; Thirdly, it can be combined polyclinic plan with regional health planning to allocate material resources; Fourthly, the allocation system of human resource should include the selection, training and job placement.