The Role of Local Governments in the Construction of Primary Health Care System in Rural Areas: A Case of Jiangbei District,Ningbo City
农村基本医疗卫生体系建设中的地方政府——基于宁波市江北区的研究

The equalization of basic public services has been seen as an important way to reduce urban-rural disparities and coordinate urban-rural developments.A vital recognition is that the governments have to play critical roles in the construction of the rural health care system.The Central Government must take the responsibility of increasing financial investments,establishing national health goals,improving national health policies,and enhancing inter-governmental coordination to rebuild the rural primary health care system.Meanwhile,the multiple characteristics of local governments in the primary health care system can be divided into major producer,provider and supervisor.The research on the case of Jiangbei District in Ningbo City gives us an idea that the local government can be:(1) a major producer of public health services, who sets up an urban-rural integrated public health system;(2) a provider in medicare and medicaid services,who institutes a planned overall urban-rural medical security system;(3)and a producer or provider in primary health services,who depends on the cost of bureaucratized system and cost of transaction.The role of local governments as a supervisor is also capable of improving the primary health service and promoting equity and accessibility in public services.