Emergency Medicine in China: Redefining a Specialty     Notes by Henry Lahore 10/14/01

By Robbie Ali, in Journal of Emergency Medicine Vol. 21 #2, pg 197-207, 2001 

Article was the result of visits made to six large Chinese cities in 12/99 and 1/00.

There are 50-100 million Chinese people living in cave houses cut into dry embankments in Shaanxi and other provinces

Cerebrovascular accidents are the leading cause of death in China.

The Chinese government estimates that there are 100 million hypertensive people., probably resulting from high salt intake.

62% of Chinese men smoke.

About 25% of world smokers are in China.

Chinese have high auto fatalities even though they have less than 2 vehicles per 100 people. High auto fatality rate may be due to poorly enforced traffic laws, the practically nonexistent use of seat belts and airbags, and long emergency medical response and transport times.

The high cost of tPA precluded its general use (for strokes).

Government expends about $10 per Chinese person on health care.

The government no longer proves free medical care to all citizens.

Approximately 25% of patients have some form of health insurance.

In order to “save money, patients often request that certain drugs not be given, tests not be done, and procedures not be performed.”

Telephone number 120, the Chinese equivalent of 911, is not active in most smaller Chinese cities and rural areas.

There are no paramedics.  Ambulance drivers receive little of no formal training.