Private Sector Offers Solutions for Improving Health in China, IFC Says

March 26, 2007 — Over the past two decades, China has undergone social and economic changes that have had a major impact on the health of its people. IFC is keen to step up its role in helping China meet its healthcare needs, noted Farida Khambata, Vice President of Asia and Latin America, speaking at the opening ceremony of the China Healthcare Public-Private Partnership Forum 2007 in Beijing last week.
“More active involvement of the private sector will not only support public sector activities but also contribute to more rapid reforms of China’s health system, thereby making it more equitable and efficient,” she said. “We see a lot of potential in acute care inpatient facilities. We also believe that the private sector has a significant role to play in the area of ambulatory care and diagnostic services.”

In the longer-term, IFC could contribute to the development of risk-pooling mechanisms, which are vital to making health services in China more accessible and efficient, Khambata said. Private voluntary insurance and community financing schemes are other areas that IFC could support.

The event brought together senior Chinese government officials, health specialists, executives, and financiers to discuss public-private partnership models that improve health sector investment, and explore ways in which the private sector can help provide high-quality international standard health care to the Chinese people. The conference, organized by IFC and China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health, was the latest in a series of forums established by IFC and China’s Ministry of Finance to discuss opportunities for public-private partnerships across various sectors in China.

Contact:

Ludi Joseph
Communications Officer
Health and Education Department, IFC
E-mail: ljoseph@ifc.org
Phone: 202-473-7700
Website: www.ifc.org/che