ABSTRACT
Objective To estimate the cost of community medical aid programs for the urban poor in Shenyang, Chengdu, Xining and Yinchuan so as to provide the primary basis for improving the compensation mechanisms for such programs. Methods A survey was made on the cost consumption of six major categories in the course of health service delivery and the amount of various community health services actually delivered by the pilot community health service institutions in 2003. The cost of each service program was estimated and then the cost of medical aid programs for the urban poor was estimated. Results The per capita cost of the medical aid programs for the poor in the cities was less than 5 yuan and the total cost of the medical aid programs accounted mostly for 0.05‰ or so of the financial expenditure of each of the cities. Conclusion The government ought to make rational compensation for community medical aid programs, the cost of which is low. Setting up community health service based mechanisms of medical aid for the poor conforms to the actual condition of our country.
ABSTRACT
Objective To define urban community public health service programs by classification so as to better the mechanism of compensation for community health services. Mothods A preliminary classification of community health service programs was made in accordance with public product theories, which was then further improved by means of interviews with focal groups. Results At present a total of 99 community health service programs were offered in the cities under investigation, of which 45 were public health service programs, 21 para-public health service programs, and 33 private health service programs. Conclusion On condition that basic public health service is guaranteed, the government can make corresponding adjustments in compensation for public and para-public health service programs in light of economic development.