Description:
This book examines the political and policy dynamics of health governance in post-Mao China, shedding much critical light on global health security in general, and in particular human ability to cope with the next pandemic.
Review Quotes:
'Yanzhong Huang's book reflects a deep knowledge of Western theories as well as of Chinese political processes. On the basis of a decade of research, he traces the changes taking places in China in the politics of health policy as 'buck-passing' replaces 'bandwagoning'.' - Ezra F. Vogel, Harvard University, USA and author of Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
'Yanzhong Huang has written an important book. He asks--Why have Chinese public health indicators failed to match China's economic performance in the reform era? Indeed, why have they failed to match Mao's performance? The answer resides in the buck-passing, fragmented, unaccountable system that has developed. Public health improvement requires political change. I recommend this book highly.' -- David M. Lampton, Johns Hopkins SAIS, USA and Author of The Politics of Medicine in China
'This is a meticulously researched book that has made a valuable contribution to our understanding of the crisis in China's healthcare sector. Yanzhong Huang's research is not only theoretically original, but also insightful in its analysis of the underlying causes of the poor delivery of social services in post-Mao China.' -- Minxin Pei, Claremont McKenna College and author of China's Trapped Transition: The Limits of Developmental Autocracy
'Ever since the SARS epidemic of 2003 lifted the curtain to reveal the extent of horrors and ineptitude in China's system outsiders have puzzled over why health has remained an Achilles Heel of the transforming state. Yanzhong Huang is arguably the only expert able to solve this paradox, offering bold and startling insights. This is a must-read for anybody interested in global health, pandemic control, or the future of the Chinese state.' -- Laurie Garrett, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations, USA and author of Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health
'Yanzhong Huang's book is a welcome addition to the growing number of scholarly studies on the consequences and impact of post-Mao reforms - in this case, on developments in China's health care sector...Huang's book offers a critical evaluation of the factors contributing to the crises in the delivery of health care and the government's attempts to deal with the challenges of rebuilding a viable health care system in the transition to a market economy.' - Ka-che Yip, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA (China Information 2013)