Title: Chinese healthcare system and workers' welfare

Authors: Richard E. Wokutch; Shuyi Zhang; Xiaoping Zhao

Addresses: Department of Management, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA ' School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Shanghai Finance University, Room 107, Wenbo Building, Pudong, Shanghai 201209, China ' Department of Management, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Abstract: This paper examines the Chinese healthcare system and identifies areas for improvement, particularly as it relates to workers' health and safety. Consistent with China's dramatic economic growth in recent years, there have been considerable improvements in access to both modern and traditional medical care for the general public. However, the availability and quality of modern medical care remain quite poor for many Chinese, particularly those in rural and western regions. Problems are exacerbated by various inefficiencies and widespread corruption in the healthcare delivery system. Moreover, because access to healthcare coverage is based on one's registered permanent residence, the great migration of workers to jobs in the more wealthy eastern part of the country has aggravated medical care access problems. Certain issues related to workers' safety, health, and various environmental and other public health problems have also worsened owing to the rapid economic development.

Keywords: China; national healthcare; worker health and safety; employee health and safety; corporate social responsibility; CSR; Foxconn; modern medicine; traditional medicine; illness; injury; labour; welfare; healthcare inefficiencies; corruption; healthcare delivery; medical care; healthcare accessibility; public health problems; rapid economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2013.052853

European Journal of International Management, 2013 Vol.7 No.2, pp.187 - 203

Published online: 10 Sep 2014 *

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