JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Public health service is an important component and pathway to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), a major direction where many countries are striving for. China's National Basic Public Health Service Program are highly consistent with the direction. It provides life cycle services to the whole population with an equitable and affordable financing system. Its implementation builds up capacity and quality of health workforce and contributes to the integration of public health service delivery system. All of these is useful experience for China on its journey to UHC. Meanwhile, there are also some challenges, including lack of selection and exit mechanism of service items, inadequate system integration, shortage of qualified professionals, limited role of actors outside of health sector, and subsidy standard lower than the cost. In the future, China needs to address those challenges, especially to optimize service items, enhance quality of the services, and evaluate the health outcomes.