Abstract
In the early decades of Communist China, the country used to be praised by the World Health Organization as it had set up as an example for developing countries for its great achievements in its health system, notably in rural areas, where it covered the major party of the population. The system was made of three different features: a government-funded health care (gongfei yiliao) for State employees, a labor insurance healthcare (laobao yiliao) for collectively owned enterprises and a cooperative healthcare system (hezuo yiliao) for rural population. This system allowed the majority of the population to be covered and to get access to cheap or free treatments. For instance in 1975, 90% of the urban population was covered as well as 85% of the rural habitants and had access to basic health provisions. We examine China's success in this sector and the various strategies adopted by the country.
