ABSTRACT
The People’s Republic of China has achieved spectacular improvements in healthcare since its founding in 1949. Its public health system developed from a very low base inherited from the old regime but underwent rapid development under the planned economy. During the period between 1950 and 1978, in spite of fluctuations as a result of political movements, mortality rates, however, were reduced significantly while the life expectancy of the Chinese population almost doubled. Major communicable diseases were curbed by mass mobilization through major public health campaigns. A three-tier public health network was established both in urban and rural areas with Prevention First held as the overall principle and widespread primary healthcare provided at low costs.
