Health, Conflict, and the Chinese Political System Volume 18

Health, Conflict, and the Chinese Political System explores how substantial increases in manpower, facilities, and pharmaceutical production have occurred in China, improving the conditions under which most Chinese live immeasurably. What have been the conflicts and controversies which occurred on the way to achieving these results? How have social, political, and professional forces influenced the shape of health policies, and what does this tell us about the Chinese political system?

The core assumption is that health resources are limited. Consequently, public policy must establish the guidelines for the distribution of immediate benefits and lay the foundations for expansion of services in the long run. Because there are no universally shared criteria for distribution, and no widely shared vision of the "best" path for development, political conflict has abounded. [5-6]