154.Comparison and Conclusion【Challenges】 I will also point out three main issues regarding China's public health insurance system.①Changing disease patterns and rising costs: As cancerand cardiovascular diseases become more common, Chinais seeing a shift toward a Western-style disease structure.As a result, the per capita cost of medical care is risingsharply.②Regional disparities in medical access: Advanced medicalfacilities are concentrated in urban areas. Rural residentsoften need to travel to cities for treatment, which leads tohigher out-of-pocket expenses, especially when seekingcare outside their insurance coverage area. When comparing the public health insurance systems in Japan and China, some common trends emerge. Both countries aim for universal health coverage, and both face rising medical costs driven by aging populations. However, key differences remain. In Japan, people enjoy free access to any medical institution, regardless of location. In contrast, China lacks this level of accessibility, and its higher out-of-pocket costs make healthcare access more unequal. For this reason, China’s system cannot yet be considered truly universal and faces greater challenges than Japan’s.③High out-of-pocket costs for serious illnesses: Publichealth insurance in China has a coverage limit. For majorillnesses such as cancer, patients must often pay a largeportion of the cost themselves While both nations must address the financial sustainability of their systems, China’s more urgent issue is reducing inequalities. Expanding access through policies such as free choice of health institutions and improving rural care infrastructure will be essential for achieving more equitable healthcare.
元のページ ../index.html#16