Can Health Disparity Be Eliminated? The Role of Family Doctor Played in Shanghai, China

Jiaoling Huang, Qin Zhu and Jing Guo
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Jiaoling Huang: School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
Qin Zhu: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Jing Guo: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Background : Globally, the elimination of health disparity is a significant policy target. Primary health care has been implemented as a strategy to achieve this target in China for almost 10 years. This study examined whether family doctor (FD) policy in Shanghai contributed to eliminating health disparity as expected. Methods: System dynamics modeling was performed to construct and simulate a system of health disparity formation (business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, without any interventions), a system with FD intervention (FD scenario), and three other systems with supporting policies (Policy 1/Policy 2/Policy hybrid scenario) from 2013 to 2050. Health disparities were simulated in different scenarios, making it possible to compare the BAU results with those of FD intervention and with other policy interventions. Findings: System dynamics models showed that the FD policy would play a positive role in reducing health disparities in the initial stage, and medical price control—rather than health management—was the dominant mechanism. However, in this model, the health gap was projected to expand again around 2039. The model examined the introduction of two intervention policies, with findings showing that the policy focused on socioeconomic status improvement would be more effective in reducing health disparities, suggesting that socioeconomic status is the fundamental cause of these disparities. Conclusions: The results indicate that health disparities could be optimized, but not eliminated, as long as differences in socioeconomic status persists.

Keywords: health disparity; family doctor; system dynamics modeling; socioeconomic status; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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