The Role and Scope of Private Medical Practice in China

Chapter 3. Result part 3
Table 29. Part time private medical practice for public doctors
Variables RR 95% CI
Practice settings
Public 1.33 1.01 1.75
Private*
Gender
Male 1.49 1.13 1.95
Female*
Length of medical training
less than 3 yrs 0.67 0.42 1.07
3-3.9 yrs 0.67 0.50 0.89
4-4.9 yrs 0.62 0.42 0.92
5 yrs and above (incl others)*
Other salient findings
Other salient findings on the opinion toward health care system were as
follows (see Table 27, and also Annex F for subgroup analyses):
• 52% agreed that “It is difficult to start up a private medical practice in my
province”. More private doctors (61%) than public doctors (45%) agreed
with this statement.
• 36% said “I think the health authorities in my province are not supportive
of private medical practice in my province”. Again, more private doctors
(42%) than public doctors (31%) agreed with this statement.
• 58% said “It is acceptable for private health facilities to make profits”.
Again, more private doctors (76%) than public doctors (43%) agreed with
this statement.
• 63% believed that “health care is a government responsibility; government
should pay the bulk of health care costs”. More public doctors (71%) than
private doctors (52%) agreed with this statement.
• 24% believed that “health care is an individual responsibility; people
should pay for the bulk of health care costs”. More private doctors (31%)
than public doctors (17) agreed with this statement.
• 76% said “I am presently underpaid for the work that I do”. More public
doctors (81%) than private doctors (69%) agreed with this statement.
• 53% said that “given the choice between the private and public sector, I
would rather work in a private health care facility” More private doctors
(62%) than public doctors (46%) agreed with this statement.
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