Access to care in post-economic reform rural China: results from a 1994 cross-sectional survey

The purpose of this paper is to assess the current level of access to care in rural China based on results from a 1994 random, cross-sectional survey of three rural counties in China. A total of 722 people were interviewed. The results of the study indicate there is currently a significant gap among rural Chinese communities in terms of access to health care, particularly with regard to availability (e.g., cooperative health plan or other insurance plans) and acceptability (e.g., health care spending burden). Less developed rural communities are placed in double jeopardy: not only are residents paying a higher amount for health care, they have to do so with significantly less income.