IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH Flashcards
Why did Mao introduce health care reform?
Wanted a healthy workforce, wanted successful healthcare for communist propanda
Hopes the doctors would care about peasants rather than be in bourgeoisie mindset
What were the policies introduced to improve health?
Barefoot doctors
Health care reform
What were the features of the introduction of the barefoot doctors?
During the cultural revolution 1m medical trainees, they were sent to give basic help to rural peasants
Took 6 months of basic study
Sent out to teach about preventive healthcare, family planning and treating common diseases
Tackled diseased like cholera and malaria
90% of villages involved by 1976
What were the features of the health care reform introduced?
Emphasis on prevention rather than cure and educate peasants
Supported by posters, leaflets and films
Used the germ welfare scare during Korean War to help propganda
Encouraged children to eradicate flies, mosquitos, rates and sparrows
What were the overall advantages of the improvement of health care?
Reduced number of deaths from disease
Caused people to be more effective in health, e.g. removing human waste more effectively
Children enjoyed eradicating pests
Life expectancy rose- 41 years to 62 years by 1970
Infant mortality rates fell
What were the overall disadvantages of the improvement in health care?
Hospital was better in cities- rural cities there were few doctors and care was provided at a lower level
Killing sparrows damaged ecosystem, which outweighed the positive effects
