As China embarks on a "scientific development approach" to advance new evidence-based health policies, there has been an ever-increasing need for applied research studies. The HSPH China Initiative seeks to: a) identify major unresolved public health and health system issues facing China, b) seek funding support, and c) involve Harvard faculties and students in conducting collaborative research projects on China in partnership with members of the public and private sectors in China and internationally.   

Major areas, in which vigorous research studies are needed to help inform the policy-making process, include: (1) occupational and environmental health, (2) public health surveillance, (3) food safety and malnutrition, (4) tobacco control, (5) maternal and child health, (6) health and healthcare in poor rural areas, (7) health system reforms. 

Health System Reform Study 

In collaboration with the Tsinghua University School of Public Policy and Management and the Tsinghua School of Business Administration, the HSPH China Initiative has been conducting a comprehensive study to diagnose major problems facing China's health system and to generate policy recommendations.  In addition to faculty members, more than 10 graduate students were involved in this study, the interim findings of which were presented at an international conference in January 2007 in Beijing and a package of policy recommendations was presented to the National Coordinating Committee on Healthcare Reforms in June 2007. This serves as an example of how the applied research studies conducted by the HSPH China Initiative can help advance the education mission of HSPH by providing hands-on research experiences for our students.  For more information on this study, please visit Health System Reform Study. 

Establishing Community Medical Cooperatives Study 

In addition, the HSPH China Initiative has been conducting an on-going study of Community Medical Cooperatives.  A Community Medical Cooperative (CMC) is a community-based organization owned and controlled by its members.   Drawing on experiences from a similar project conducted in 2004-2006 in Luochuan County in Shanxi Province, the HSPH China Initiative will work with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Yongji County in Shanxi Province to conduct a baseline household survey of healthcare needs and access (performed in April 2007).  As part of the project, this information is intended to help the community establish CMCs and to vigorously evaluate and demonstrate the process and impact of the interventions.  For more information on this study, please visit Evaluating Community Medical Cooperatives.
 

Cigarette Tax Initiative

The HSPH China Initiative, in conjunction with the Tsinghua University School of Public Policy in Beiking, has launched a program exploring the feasibility of a tobacco tax - a strategy that has proven effective in reducing use in other countries. A proposed tobacco tax earmarked to fund healthcare reform will be analyzed from political, economic, and technical angles. Researchers will then offer comprehensive policy recommendations to the Chinese government.

The project received funding in the fall from the Bloomberg Global Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. Researchers held a workshop in Beijing in October which was attended by representatives of the Chinese government, the WHO, and the World Bank.

For more information on articles and literature published by China Initiative faculty and staff, please visit Publications and PubMed Articles.  

Photo courtesy of Richard Feldman/HSPH.