I may have gotten some information incorrect, but I believe that the Chinese welfare system is very complex and even sad to think about. Citizens are only entitled to free healthcare in their home province. Outside of that they are not entitled. It’s called the hukou system. Despite the uplifting of millions of Chinese from poverty, the wealth and access to resources is strange in such a way.
Their home province may be rural and not have hospitals equipped to treat certain diseases? China is a big country and not all of it is well developed.
This is the correct answer in a lot of cases and even if their hukou is in a modern place like Shanghai, the best hospitals and latest medical treatments are often not part of the basic medical coverage. Long lines and long waits happen for many services. A two tier system of public and private care exists with the rich able to pay for private doctor, private rooms, and advanced care. I lived in Shanghai for 11 years. Managed to have a heart attack there and got great emergency service at a fraction of the cost in the USA. After care was long lines and long waits at the local hospital so I went to the international clinic for that.
A lot of Chinese are from the more rural interior and travel to the more prosperous cities, which are closer to the coast, to work. Traveling to their home province to get treatment is more arduous than getting sick itself.
I may have gotten some information incorrect, but I believe that the Chinese welfare system is very complex and even sad to think about. Citizens are only entitled to free healthcare in their home province. Outside of that they are not entitled. It’s called the hukou system. Despite the uplifting of millions of Chinese from poverty, the wealth and access to resources is strange in such a way.
I think it’s pronounced the “fuk-you” system.
Best comment I’ve read!
So … if you were very sick, why wouldn’t you go back to your home province to get that healthcare?
Stupid system, sure, but it seems like a much more reasonable solution than hoping your child wins a lot of money in sports.
Their home province may be rural and not have hospitals equipped to treat certain diseases? China is a big country and not all of it is well developed.
This is the correct answer in a lot of cases and even if their hukou is in a modern place like Shanghai, the best hospitals and latest medical treatments are often not part of the basic medical coverage. Long lines and long waits happen for many services. A two tier system of public and private care exists with the rich able to pay for private doctor, private rooms, and advanced care. I lived in Shanghai for 11 years. Managed to have a heart attack there and got great emergency service at a fraction of the cost in the USA. After care was long lines and long waits at the local hospital so I went to the international clinic for that.
A lot of Chinese are from the more rural interior and travel to the more prosperous cities, which are closer to the coast, to work. Traveling to their home province to get treatment is more arduous than getting sick itself.
Would it also be fair to assume a rural province might not have the specialist you need?
As somebody mentioned already, you’re right, most specialists live urban areas.