People-centred integrated care in urban China

Xin Wang, Xizhuo Sun, Stephen Birch, Fangfang Gong, Pim Valentijn, Lijin Chen, Yong Zhang, Yixiang Huang, Hongwei Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In most countries, the demand for integrated care for people with chronic diseases is increasing as the population ages. This demand requires a fundamental shift of health-care systems towards more integrated service delivery models. To achieve this shift in China, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Chinese government proposed a tiered health-care delivery system in accordance with a people-centred integrated care model. The approach was pioneered in Luohu district of Shenzhen city from 2015 to 2017 as a template for practice. In September 2017, China's health ministry introduced this approach to people-centred integrated care to the entire country. We describe the features of the Luohu model in relation to the core action areas and implementation strategies proposed and we summarize data from an evaluation of the first two years of the programme. We discuss the challenges faced during implementation and the lessons learnt from it for other health-care systems. We consider how to improve collaboration between institutions, how to change the population's behaviour about using community health services as the first point of contact and how to manage resources effectively to avoid budget deficits. Finally, we outline next steps of the Luohu model and its potential application to strengthen health care in other urban health-care systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)843-852
Number of pages10
JournalWorld Health Organization. Bulletin
Volume96
Issue number12
Early online date1 Oct 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • China
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Models, Organizational
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Urban Health Services

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