Comparative analysis of changes in provincial health expenditure since China health system re-form in 2009 / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of health financing at the provincial level according to the total health expenditure since China health system reform began in 2009 and provide evidence for improving health fi-nancing policy. Methods:20 provinces were chosen and vertical and horizontal Comparative approach was used to an-alyze the data. Results:Total health expenditure increased for all regions, of which the biggest rate was Anhui prov-ince, about 82. 97%, while the largest increasing for government health care expenditure was Ningxia province, a-bout 108 . 71%. In 2012 , the provinces with social health expenditure share of total above 40% were allocated in the east region, and the number of provinces with out-of pocket payment share of total above 40% reduces to 5. Conclu-sion:Total health expenditure grew in all regions, but there were differences in the degree that this spending matched the economic level;The financing structure was optimized, but the characteristic of regional financing was different. Some provinces were under huge pressure to reduce out-of pocket payments. Suggestions: Under the premise of im-proving the funding level, financing structure adjustment must be focused, and public funding should play a bigger role and out-of pocket payments should be reduced.