Is sub-national healthcare social protection sufficient for protecting rare disease patients? the case of China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Failing to provide social support to cover healthcare costs for rare diseases would lead to great financial distress for the patients and their families. People from countries without a well-developed health safety-net are particularly vulnerable. Existing literature on rare diseases in China focuses on the unmet needs for care of the patients and the difficulties of caregivers and physicians. Very few studies examine the state of social safety-net, the unresolved issues and whether the current localized arrangements are sufficient. This study aimed to gain in-depth knowledge of the current policy system and make sense of the local varieties, which would be essential for developing strategies for future policy changes.

Methods

This systematic policy review focuses

SUBMITTER: Xu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10311551 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature