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Health Research Policy and Systems
Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research

Health care systems in Sweden and China: Legal and formal organisational aspects

Authors: Björn Albin, Katarina Hjelm, Wen Chang Zhang

Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Sharing knowledge and experience internationally can provide valuable information, and comparative research can make an important contribution to knowledge about health care and cost-effective use of resources. Descriptions of the organisation of health care in different countries can be found, but no studies have specifically compared the legal and formal organisational systems in Sweden and China.

Aim

To describe and compare health care in Sweden and China with regard to legislation, organisation, and finance.

Methods

Literature reviews were carried out in Sweden and China to identify literature published from 1985 to 2008 using the same keywords. References in recent studies were scrutinized, national legislation and regulations and government reports were searched, and textbooks were searched manually.

Results

The health care systems in Sweden and China show dissimilarities in legislation, organisation, and finance. In Sweden there is one national law concerning health care while in China the law includes the "Hygienic Common Law" and the "Fundamental Health Law" which is under development. There is a tendency towards market-orientated solutions in both countries. Sweden has a well-developed primary health care system while the primary health care system in China is still under development and relies predominantly on hospital-based care concentrated in cities.

Conclusion

Despite dissimilarities in health care systems, Sweden and China have similar basic assumptions, i.e. to combine managerial-organisational efficiency with the humanitarian-egalitarian goals of health care, and both strive to provide better care for all.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Health care systems in Sweden and China: Legal and formal organisational aspects
Authors
Björn Albin
Katarina Hjelm
Wen Chang Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health Research Policy and Systems / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-8-20

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