Healthcare, inequality, and epidemiologic transition: Example of China

Abstract

China has achieved great improvements in population and public health, such as a dramatically lower mortality rate, increased life expectancy, and extensive immunization coverage. However, new health challenges emerge in China today. Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of deaths, while there still are serious malnutrition issues among poor segments of the population. New health problems and increased income inequality have both emerged during the period of economic reform and market transition of healthcare systems. This chapter aims to give an overview of three possible factors that influence population health in transitional China. This includes (1) the healthcare system, (2) income inequality, and (3) epidemiological transition.