Author(s)

Paul Kowal, Nirmala Naidoo, Sharon Renee Williams, Somnath Chatterji

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Objectives: To examine differences in health system responsiveness across different sectors in China and to compare to other Asian countries. Methods: The World Health Survey was implemented in a nationally representative sample in China and 10 additional Asian countries from 2002-2003. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to gather health care utilization and health systems responsiveness data. Results: Overall health system responsiveness in China was better for the inpatient than the outpatient health system. Differences were seen by domain, with prompt attention and respectful treatment performing better than the other domains. Differences in responsiveness were seen by socio- demographic characteristics, with women and younger respondents rating inpatient systems, whereas men and higher educated respondents rated outpatient systems, more responsive. Conclusions: As populations age, health care systems will come under more pressures – responsiveness can be used by governments to guide policy and system improvement efforts when resources are limited. In China, reforms might prioritize outpatient system responsiveness.

Ageing; Adult Health; Health;Planning; Health Policy; Health Systems

Kowal, P. , Naidoo, N. , Williams, S. and Chatterji, S. (2011) Performance of the health system in China and Asia as measured by responsiveness. Health, 3, 638-646. doi: 10.4236/health.2011.310108.