Well that escalated quickly! Chongqing's 'market price' health reforms abandoned after just six days as dialysis patients take to streets to demonstrate

by Michael Woodhead 

The introduction of 'market prices' for healthcare services - one of the fundamental health reforms being introduced by the Xi Jinping government -  triggered immediate and widespread opposition in Chongqing and was abandoned after just six days.

In what is likely to be a major setback for health minister Li Bin, the centrepiece of her healthcare reforms was publicly shouted down by angry demonstrators who took to the streets of Chongqing last week. The new policy was intended to move hospitals away from the flawed policy of relying too much on drug sales for income. However, by shifting to a 'zero commission' policy for pharmaceuticals the hospitals are then forced to start charging more realistic (ie higher) rates for other medical services.

When introduced in Chongqing on March 25, about a thousand dialysis patients took to the streets, complaining that the cost of their daily treatment had more than doubled from 95 yuan to 200 yuan. This would mean their monthly costs would rise to about 3500yuan, most of which was not covered by their state health insurance.

Dialysis services were just one of 7886 medical items that were 'adjusted' from march 25 by the Chongqing health department. According to official media, the prices of consultations, surgery and other care services rose from 13% to 30%. The health department also said that some fees were reduced by up to 25%.

However, after angry demonstrations, the Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan convened an emergency meeting on April 1 and announced that the hospital fees would return to the 2014 'standard' level until further notice.

The demonstrations have been reported in the media, with patients telling reporters about the actual effect of the price changes on their medical expenses. Haemodialysis patients said their monthly medical bills would increase by thousands of yuan as a result of the price hikes.



Health analysts told Caixin that the market price adjustment policy failed because there was no 'free market' system for health in China. They said the sector-level reform was 'backward' and there was an underlying problem of national health underfunding, with patients being under-insured and cities such as Chongqing lacking the funds to meet the increasing demands of an ageing population's healthcare costs. They said the reforms simply passed on healthcare costs to vulnerable patient groups such as those needing dialysis, who would face impossibly large 'gap fees'.

The reforms have now been put on hold for further public consultation. What this means for the introduction of similar reforms planned for 16 of China's major cities remains to be seen.

Infant health improves after coal power station shuts down

The closure of a polluting coal-fired power plant in Tongliang, Sichuan, resulted in a marked improvement in the health of local babies, researchers have reported.  
The power station was the major pollution source until its shutdown in 2004. Researchers from Chongqing Medical University measured prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants before and after the closure and found that reduced levels were associated with improvements in birth outcomes, neurodevelopment and early childhood growth rates.
“The findings of this study are encouraging in that direct governmental interventions to remove a polluting coal-burning source can have rapid and direct benefits to children's health. This in turn is a strong motivation for China to further invest in renewable and energy- efficient fuels, a necessity for its future.
Full study: Environmental Pollution

University of Cincinnati may open medical school in Chongqing

The University of Cincinnati has been in talks with Chinese officials about adding a medical school campus in China in conjunction with Chongqing Medical University.
College of Medicine Dean Tom Boat recently updated university trustees about the discussions.
Tens of millions of dollars would be needed in donations to make the UC campus a reality, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. But supporters point to the potential for new growth and revenue in the world's largest nation by population.
"It would allow us to have an international connection with China that would really push our globalization efforts forward," Boat told professors and students last week.
China is the leading source for international students for UC, with 962 Chinese students enrolled this year. The university already has a number of collaboration and project agreements in China.
Boat emphasized the plans are in very early stages with Chongqing Medical University, which has four hospitals with 5,000 beds and treats millions of outpatients annually.
"If the plan plays out, yes, it would be a UC-branded campus," Boat said.
Duke University, in Durham, N.C., has moved ahead with its plans for a China campus in partnership with Chinese educators. Duke Kunshan University operations are currently expected to begin in the 2013-14 academic year, pending final approval from Chinese officials.
UC's College of Medicine could use another source of revenue. The medical school lost $7 million on operating costs, while receiving a $10 million one-time payment from Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center.
UC gave out $2.66 million in institutional aid to medical students in the 2010-11 school year, compared to $5.8 million by Ohio State University, the Cincinnati newspaper reported.

Read more: Newsday