Since 1950, the Chinese government has been building and rebuilding a healthcare sys- tem to improve the health status of the Chinese population. The accomplishments are significant. Some communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria have been largely controlled. Average life expectancy at birth increased from 42 years (1950) to 73 (2009) (Ministry of Health of China 2010). The infant mortality rate fell from about 200‰ (1950) to 19‰ (2005) (Ministry of Health China 2007).

With the devastation resulting from . . . . . read more