Abstract
BackgroundUnder-5-years child mortality remains high in rural China. Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) was introduced to China in 1998, but only a few rural areas have been included. This study aimed at assessing the current situation of the health system of rural health care and evaluating the clinical competency of village doctors in management of childhood illnesses prior to implementing IMCI programme in remote border rural areas.MethodsThe study was carried out in the border areas of Puer prefecture of Yunnan province. There were 182 village doctors in the list of the health bureau in these border areas. Of these, 154 (84.6%) were recruited into the study. The local health system components were investigated using a qualitative approach and analyzed with triangulation of information from different sources. The clinical component was assessed objectively and quantitatively presented using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe study found that the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) coordinated the health insurance system and the provider service through 3 tiers: village doctor, township and county hospitals. The 30 RMB per person per year premium did not cover the referral cost, and thereby decreased the number of referrals. In contrast to available treatment facilities and drug supply, the level of basic medical education of village doctors and township doctors was low. Discontent among village doctors was common, especially concerning low rates of return from the service, exceptions being procedures such as injections, which in fact may create moral hazards to the patients. Direct observation on the assessment and management of paediatric patients by village doctors revealed inadequate history taking and physical examination, inability to detect potentially serious complications, overprescription of injection and antibiotics, and underprescription of oral rehydration salts and poor quality of counseling.ConclusionThere is a need to improve health finance and clinical competency of the village doctors in the study area.
Highlights
Under-5-years child mortality remains high in rural China
During the 1950s, the system of barefoot doctors and the Cooperative Medical Scheme (CMS) financed health care was conducted in China to look after the health of the rural population
In 2010, New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) covered more than 90% of the rural population [6]
Summary
Under-5-years child mortality remains high in rural China. Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) was introduced to China in 1998, but only a few rural areas have been included. During the 1950s, the system of barefoot doctors and the Cooperative Medical Scheme (CMS) financed health care was conducted in China to look after the health of the rural population. This “barefoot doctor” service was initiated by the peasants on a collective and mutual aid basis [1]. Amidst the world trend of health finance reform in 2003, the Chinese government started the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) to reduce the financial burden on rural residents It is a combined government-run, voluntary, community-based and costsharing medical insurance programme. Because of the poor quality of new village doctors who provide primary health care in the village, people are still facing many problems at the grass roots level in China
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