Health professionals’ perspective on the impact of community health care reform in different regions of China

Abstract

Objective: Changes in supplying community health services, degree of satisfaction, and policy suggestions are presented from the perspectives of health professionals in different regions of China with the purpose of further facilitating comprehensive reform of community health services.

Methods: Based on geographic location and economic level of development, eight cities were selected and 12 community health service institutions were chosen by random sampling from each city. A questionnaire survey was conducted by the health professionals.

Results: With respect to working enthusiasm, reduction in antibiotic drug use, social image and trust of patients, more health professionals in middle and western China showed positive feedbacks than those in eastern China. With respect to preliminary results of the reform, performance and salary, and health care insurance policies, health professionals’ satisfaction levels in middle and western China were higher than in eastern China. The health professionals in middle and western China were more concerned about equipment, infrastructure and increasing training opportunities. The health professionals in both eastern and middle China accentuated improving the variety of essential drugs covered by health insurance, while health professionals in eastern China suggested performance-related payment reform.

Conclusions: The performance of health professionals in middle and western China was improved more significantly through comprehensive reform than that of health professionals in eastern China. For health professionals in middle and western China, it is essential to strengthen infrastructure and increase professional training, while health professionals in middle and eastern China would like to see an increase in the variety of essential drugs, and those in eastern China require strengthening performance-related payment reform.