ABSTRACT
Boundaries definition plays a key role in defining the scope of essential medical coverage of the country and the governmental role positioning in medical service offerings.It is also a precondition of furthering the ongoing healthcare reform.This paper analyzed the data of health service demand,supply and financing using the priority setting and the integrated balance methods.It suggested that the definition of the essential medical services should embody Chinese characteristics and be consistent with the Party′s governing philosophy and social core values.It also should be fully considered that the administration system,the governing philosophy,the medical insurance system and the government duty in the healthcare system of China.This paper proposed a multiple-criteria defining of the essential medical services,which should focus on main healthcare issues in China,and be adapted to the current healthcare reform process.Three dimensions need to be considered in the defining,which are the demand,supply and financing of the healthcare services,along with the impact of the housing,equipment,personnel, technology,supplies,drugs and other medical service elements.This paper presented the overall framework of essential medical services in four levels,which is composed of the basic package,the core package,the priority package and the expansion package.