The definition of tiered health care systems and institutional levels from perspective of general practice attributes in China / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

The definition and connotation of tiered health care system ( THCS ) is a fundamental field of re-search for the system and a logic orientation of institution establishment and smoothing as well. Through analyzing and distinguishing the related international and domestic THCS concepts and exploring its essence from the general prac-tice attributes perspective, we found several problems existing in the Chinese THCS. First of all, the three-tiered pa-tient transfer principle which, merely based on the disease, have seriously neglected patient’s health care system serv-ice requirements. Second, the specialty of the general practice lost the function of making a supplement of specialized disciplines. Third, it did not generate a straightforward boundary between the general practice and special care sys-tem. Forth, the organizational management was adopted to replace the professional one required by two specialties. Based on these findings, we gave a clear and smooth THCS definition and answered three fundamental TMSS ques-tions. Additionally, we proposed a concept for which TMSS management should be composed of micro-, medium-and macro-level institutions.