In the past few years, the pace of medical reform in the mainland has not stopped, from the expansion of medical insurance coverage, the improvement of primary medical facilities to the adjustment of drug prices, the original intention of the policy is undoubtedly to allow the people to enjoy more convenient and fair medical services. However, despite the remarkable achievements of medical reform, we still often hear complaints about "difficult to see a doctor" and "expensive to see a doctor". What's going on here? This article will take you through the complexities of this issue
First, let's take a look at the "difficulty in seeing a doctor". Despite the increase in the number of primary medical institutions, there is still a high concentration of high-quality medical resources in large cities and first-tier cities. Specialist numbers are hard to come by in major hospitals, and people have to wait in line for minor illnesses, making it difficult for many people to get the treatment they need quickly, even if they have health insurance. In addition, the uneven allocation of medical resources between urban and rural areas and between regions makes it impossible for people in rural and remote areas to enjoy the same medical services.
Second, "expensive medical treatment" does not only refer to the absolute value of medical expenses, but also includes the lack of transparency and unexpected expenses of medical expenses. Although the reimbursement ratio of medical insurance has increased, the out-of-pocket part, the pricing mechanism of drugs and examination items, and the high cost of medical devices have made patients face heavy financial pressure in the face of serious illnesses. At the same time, due to information asymmetry, patients often lack an estimate of medical expenses, resulting in actual expenditures exceeding expectations
Moreover, there are still some deep-seated problems in medical reform. For example, the work pressure and treatment problems of doctors may lead to inefficient medical services, and the service attitude and quality of doctors will be affected. In addition, overtreatment and overuse of antibiotics persist, which not only increases the financial burden on patients, but also puts pressure on medical insurance funds.
However, solving these problems is not an easy task. Health care reform requires systematic and long-term efforts, including optimizing the allocation of medical resources, improving the capacity of primary medical services, reforming the pricing mechanism of drugs and medical services, and strengthening the supervision of the medical industry. At the same time, the public also needs to enhance their awareness of self-care, make rational use of medical insurance, actively participate in medical decision-making, and jointly promote the improvement of the medical system.
In general, although the mainland's medical reform has made significant progress, the problems of "difficult to see a doctor" and "expensive to see a doctor" have not been completely resolved. We need to continue to deepen medical reform, break down institutional barriers, and guide all sectors of society to participate together, so that we can truly achieve a fair distribution of medical resources, so that every citizen can receive timely and effective treatment when they are sick, and no longer worry about "seeing a doctor". Only in this way can our road of medical reform be more stable and more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.