Healthcare is often criticized as being subpar compared to America and the West—at least, that's what I frequently hear in my YouTube comments. But is this actually true? Healthcare is a fundamental aspect of any society, reflecting not only the overall well-being of its population but also the effectiveness of its governance. One of the biggest questions I get is about healthcare in China and how it compares to that in the West. Having lived in China for three years, I've had the opportunity to experience healthcare on numerous occasions. So, let's take a look at how it compares, the differences, and the common misconceptions surrounding it.

中國的醫(yī)療體系經(jīng)常被批評為不如美國和西方國家——至少,這是我在YouTube評論中經(jīng)常聽到的說法。但這是真的嗎?醫(yī)療是任何社會的基本方面,不僅反映了其人口的整體健康狀況,也反映了其治理的有效性。我經(jīng)常被問到的一個最大的問題是中國的醫(yī)療系統(tǒng)與西方國家相比如何。由于我在中國生活了三年,有機(jī)會多次親身體驗醫(yī)療服務(wù)。那么,讓我們來看看它與西方國家的差異,以及圍繞它的一些常見誤解。


The first misconception I often hear is that healthcare in China is only for the rich or at least for a certain subset of the population. Many in the West seem to believe that quality healthcare in China is only accessible to the wealthy. While it's true that private hospitals in China, like in any other country, can be expensive, China's public healthcare system provides affordable care to the general population—a population of 1.4 billion people, let's not forget. China's healthcare system has evolved rapidly over the past few decades. Where it was once perhaps lagging behind the West, China has undergone a significant transformation in this sector, much like in other areas of the country.

我經(jīng)常聽到的第一個誤解是,中國的醫(yī)療只為富人服務(wù),或者至少是為某些特定群體服務(wù)。許多西方人似乎認(rèn)為,在中國,優(yōu)質(zhì)的醫(yī)療服務(wù)只有富人才能享受。雖然確實如其他國家一樣,中國的私立醫(yī)院可能很昂貴,但中國的公共醫(yī)療體系為廣大民眾提供了可負(fù)擔(dān)的醫(yī)療服務(wù)——這一龐大的人口有14億人,不要忘了。中國的醫(yī)療體系在過去幾十年中迅速發(fā)展。曾經(jīng)可能落后于西方,但中國在這一領(lǐng)域(如同其他許多領(lǐng)域)已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了顯著的轉(zhuǎn)變。

But has this evolution made healthcare too expensive for the average person? From my own experience, I can say no. Recently, I paid around 30 RMB (about $4) to be seen at a public hospital. This wasn't some obscure hospital either; it was the best hospital in China for that specific field of medicine, located in downtown Shanghai, the country's largest city. Considering that the average salary in Shanghai is around 13,500 RMB per month, spending 30 RMB to see a doctor seems affordable for many people. And this doesn't even factor in whether the person has insurance, which many people in China do.

但這種轉(zhuǎn)變是否讓醫(yī)療變得對普通人來說過于昂貴了呢?根據(jù)我的親身經(jīng)歷,我可以說并非如此。最近,我在一家公立醫(yī)院看病,花費了大約30元人民幣(約4美元)。這可不是一家偏僻的小醫(yī)院,而是中國在該特定醫(yī)學(xué)領(lǐng)域最好的醫(yī)院,位于中國最大的城市上海的市中心??紤]到上海的平均月薪約為13,500元人民幣,花30元人民幣看病對于許多人來說是可以負(fù)擔(dān)的。這還不包括是否有保險的問題,因為中國很多人確實有醫(yī)療保險。

In contrast, healthcare in the US is on a completely different level. Americans often criticize their healthcare system for its high out-of-pocket costs, even for those with insurance. Deductibles and other expenses can lead to significant financial strain, a point frequently discussed by politicians. In the UK, while healthcare is free at the point of use, it's indirectly funded through taxes—by some estimates, 40% of all income tax in the UK goes to the NHS. Despite this, the NHS is often criticized for being poorly run, with long wait times and operational inefficiencies.

相比之下,美國的醫(yī)療體系完全是另一種水平。美國人經(jīng)常批評他們的醫(yī)療體系自付費用過高,即使對于有保險的人來說也是如此。高額的免賠額和其他費用會導(dǎo)致巨大的經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力,這也是政治家們經(jīng)常討論的話題。在英國,雖然醫(yī)療服務(wù)在使用時是免費的,但它是通過稅收間接資助的——據(jù)一些估計,英國40%的所得稅都用于國家醫(yī)療服務(wù)(NHS)。盡管如此,NHS經(jīng)常被批評為管理不善,等待時間長,運作效率低。

However, even without comprehensive insurance, out-of-pocket expenses for treatments, consultations, and medications in China are often affordable, at least in my experience. And contrary to what some might believe, getting an appointment to see a doctor isn't particularly difficult either. In fact, appointments are relatively easy to secure, and the wait times are minimal compared to what I was used to in the UK. This efficiency is partly due to the digitization of healthcare services in China, where appointments, prescxtions, and payments can all be managed through a single app—WeChat. This integration of technology into healthcare has made the entire process much smoother and more patient-friendly.

然而,即使沒有全面的保險,在中國,治療、咨詢和藥物的自付費用往往是可以負(fù)擔(dān)的,至少根據(jù)我的經(jīng)驗是如此。與一些人的想象相反,預(yù)約看醫(yī)生其實并不難。實際上,與我在英國的經(jīng)歷相比,中國的預(yù)約相對容易,等待時間也很短。這種效率部分歸功于中國醫(yī)療服務(wù)的數(shù)字化,在這里,預(yù)約、處方甚至支付都可以通過一個應(yīng)用程序——微信來完成。這種技術(shù)與醫(yī)療的結(jié)合使整個過程更加順暢和以患者為中心。

For example, in the UK, you have to call at exactly 8:00 a.m. to try and secure an appointment. If you need prescxtion medicine, you must visit the doctor in person, get a signed paper, and then take it to a separate location to buy the medicine. In China, it's much simpler: you book an appointment, pay, and order medicine—all through your phone. I'm not entirely sure what the process is like in America, but I can't imagine it being as straightforward as it is in China.

例如,在英國,你必須在早上8點準(zhǔn)時打電話,才能嘗試預(yù)約看醫(yī)生。如果你需要處方藥,必須親自去看醫(yī)生,拿到簽名的紙條,然后到另一個地方去買藥。而在中國,這要簡單得多:你在手機(jī)上預(yù)約、支付、訂購藥品。我不完全確定美國的流程是什么樣的,但我無法想象它會像中國這樣簡單明了。

Another common misconception is that Chinese hospitals are dirty. But in my experience, the hospitals I've visited in China have been clean and well-maintained. I understand this might not have always been the case, but modern Chinese hospitals appear to be quite clean.

另一個常見的誤解是,中國的醫(yī)院很臟。但根據(jù)我的經(jīng)驗,我去過的中國醫(yī)院都很干凈,維護(hù)得很好。我理解這可能并不總是如此,但現(xiàn)代中國醫(yī)院看起來相當(dāng)干凈。

When comparing the healthcare systems of China, the US, and the UK, several key differences stand out. The US, with its private market-driven system, offers high-quality care for those who can afford it but leaves many struggling with the financial burden of medical expenses. The UK's NHS, while providing free healthcare, struggles with efficiency and access, leading to long wait times and varying quality of care. China, on the other hand, seems to offer affordable, accessible healthcare to its population while using technology to streamline services. China's system, while not perfect, represents a balanced approach that combines government oversight with market-driven innovation. The integration of tech in healthcare significantly improves access and efficiency, something both the US and the UK could learn from.

在比較中國、美國和英國的醫(yī)療系統(tǒng)時,幾個關(guān)鍵的差異非常明顯。美國以私人市場驅(qū)動的系統(tǒng)為那些能負(fù)擔(dān)得起的人提供高質(zhì)量的醫(yī)療服務(wù),但許多人因此負(fù)擔(dān)沉重的醫(yī)療費用。英國的NHS雖然提供免費的醫(yī)療服務(wù),但在效率和獲取方面存在問題,導(dǎo)致長時間的等待和質(zhì)量參差不齊的服務(wù)。另一方面,中國似乎為其人口提供了可負(fù)擔(dān)、可獲取的醫(yī)療服務(wù),同時利用技術(shù)來簡化服務(wù)。中國的系統(tǒng)雖然并不完美,但代表了一種結(jié)合政府監(jiān)管與市場驅(qū)動創(chuàng)新的平衡方法。醫(yī)療領(lǐng)域的技術(shù)整合顯著提高了服務(wù)的獲取和效率,這是美國和英國都可以借鑒的。

So, while the US may excel in certain areas of specialized care, its lack of universal coverage and high costs are significant drawbacks. The UK's NHS, though admirable and deeply ingrained in the culture, is struggling to maintain the level of care expected by the public. In contrast, China's healthcare system, with its affordability, accessibility, and technological integration, seems better equipped to handle the needs of its population. Based on my experiences and observations, I would say that China's healthcare system stands out as perhaps the most effective among the three. While it has its challenges, it seems to work well for the majority of its population, unlike the systems in the US and UK, which are burdened by inefficiencies and inequalities. Healthcare will always be a critical issue, so any lessons we can learn from other countries doing better are incredibly beneficial. Hopefully, we can take a lesson or two from China's approach and implement it in our own systems.

因此,雖然美國在某些??谱o(hù)理方面可能表現(xiàn)得更好,但其缺乏普遍覆蓋和過高的費用是重大缺陷。盡管英國的NHS值得稱道,并深深植根于文化中,但它正掙扎于維持公眾期望的護(hù)理水平。相比之下,中國的醫(yī)療體系憑借其可負(fù)擔(dān)性、可獲取性和技術(shù)整合,似乎更能滿足其人口的需求。根據(jù)我的經(jīng)驗和觀察,我認(rèn)為中國的醫(yī)療體系可能在這三個國家中最為有效。雖然它也有挑戰(zhàn),但它似乎對大多數(shù)人來說運作良好,不像美國和英國的體系,負(fù)擔(dān)著低效和不平等的問題。醫(yī)療始終是一個至關(guān)重要的問題,因此從其他做得更好的國家學(xué)習(xí)經(jīng)驗非常有益。希望我們能從中國的做法中借鑒一些經(jīng)驗,并將其應(yīng)用于我們的體系中。