Abilityª²toª²pay of rural residents for cooperative medical system

    TANG Liª²Jian, SHEN Qiª²Jun, ZOU Mingª²Fei, BAI Rui, LIN Jie

    1School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China, 2Institute of Preventive Medicine, Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China, 3Ningbo Board of Health, Ningbo 315010, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To make a quantitative appraisal of rural households¬ð ability to pay for cooperative medical system (CMS). METHODS: The model of extended linear expenditure system (ELES) was used to analyze the data from the third health service investigation in the city of Ningbo. RESULTS: Rural households¬ð basic expenditure averaged £¤2692 and the basic expenditure of food averaged £¤1554. Five percent families had no ability to pay for CMS and about 12% families had the ability to pay for CMS when their expenditure structure was readjusted. Eightyª²three percent families had the ability to pay for CMS completely. CONCLUSION: The rural households¬ð quota for CMS can be increased properly. The government should do more publicity work for CMS and increase the financial support for rural households that have no ability to pay for CMS. Multilayer medical security system should be established in order to satisfy the rural households¬ð diversified needs. ......