Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Aug 23, 2020
Date Accepted: Jun 30, 2021
Understanding the “Internet + Healthcare” in China: A Policy Text Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
The combination of the Internet and healthcare has great benefits and far-reaching positive effects in improving service efficiency and promoting social equity. Particularly in the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, the role of “Internet + Healthcare” has been recognized; and this new healthcare model is also familiar to people, showing a bright prospect.
Objective:
This article seeks to correctly understand and fully grasp the characteristics of “Internet + Healthcare” policies and enlightens in formulating future policies.
Methods:
In this article, the content analysis method is used to analyze China’s “Internet + Healthcare” policies, which were collected from Beida Fabao database and several official websites.
Results:
The article found that the policy makers of “Internet + Healthcare” are mainly health administrative departments; policy instruments cover three types: supply, environment, and demand; and policy themes can be summarized into four categories: facilities, technology, service, and management.
Conclusions:
The policy issuer of China’s “Internet+ Healthcare” policy is mainly led by the health administrative departments, and it is suggested that these departments should be involved in all kinds of social forces (like medical workers, medical industries, and Internet industries) in formulating policies. Policy instruments prefer to use supply and environment sides. The policy themes emphasize in improving infrastructure construction, strengthening the supporting role of information technology, improving high-quality diagnosis and treatment services, and clearing responsibilities of all parties.
Citation
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Copyright
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