Chinese and Western medical care in China's rural commune: a case study

This paper examines the structure and functioning of both the traditional Chinese and the modern Western medical care services in the rural areas of the People's Republic of China. Data were drawn from the in-depth interviews and non-participant observations during a field visit to the Toushan Commune of Kwangtung Province in May 1978.

It was found that a variety of Chinese and Western medical services were systematically organized in terms of the three-level principle of administration, and were made available for use by the peasants living in different regions of the commune. There is a constant flow of patients and health resources among the three levels, i.e. the commune health clinic, the brigade medical stations, and the auxiliary health workers of the production teams. It is argued that (a) some organizational principles of the rural commune have facilitated the mobilization and organization not only of the Western but also of the Chinese medical resources in the rural areas, and (b) the incorporation of Chinese medical care into the organized health system has political as well as technical, cultural and economic implications.