The Incoherence of China’s National Health Development Strategies

摘要

China ambitiously promised to provide safe, effective, and affordable health care services to all citizens. However, the national strategies for enhancing health remain patchy, and the policy frameworks to empower and inspire individuals and communities to pursue a healthy lifestyle are largely fragmented. The incoherency is well epitomized by China’s failure to implement key parts of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control treaty. We seek to advance constructive debate on the health care reform and national health development in China. The year 2011 marked a turning point for the global efforts to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Early that year was the first time ever that the World Economic Forum put NCDs on its agenda and brought together chief executives from the largest global businesses and leaders of civil society, academia, and the media for the solutions to the NCD threat to the global economy. In July 2011, the World Bank released its report— Toward a Healthy and Harmonious Life in China —calling for accelerated and sustainable efforts to tackle the rising tide of NCD. 1 The United Nations (UN) General Assembly held the first-ever UN high-level meeting in September 2011 to harness global leadership and political will from national leaders to address NCDs worldwide. The UN summit offered a great moment to China to revisit its health care reform, reflect on national health development strategies, and learn the costly lessons and best practices from others.