International experience on the division and cooperation among medical institutions and its implications for China:An analysis of the UK, Germany, Singapore and the US / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

Through defining the connotation of division and cooperation among medical institutions, this paper introduces the current status for division and cooperation among medical institutions of Britain, Germany, Singapore and USA. The advantages include excellent general practices, optimal health resource allocation, effective first treat-ment in community health facilities, and effective two-way referral. We analyzed the influence of some new policies on the division and cooperation among medical institutions such as medical association, managed care and the General Practices’ service contract. This provided a lot of experience and revelations, including the dynamics to promote the division and cooperation, the separation of outpatient services and inpatient services, privatization of primary medical institutions, division and cooperation between medical institutions and nursing, rehabilitation institutions, distinguis-hing the division and cooperation from hospitals alliance, and division and cooperation among medical institutions can not resolve the all issues in the medical care supply system.