China has stunned the world with its rapid economic growth in
recent years, showcased through the glittering skyline of
Shanghai and the global events like the 2008 Olympics. But while
the country has amassed tremendous wealth, China still trails
the developed world in its ability to provide even basic health
care for its people. With its massive 1.3 billion population,
China's health care expenditures are miniscule compared to
Western nations. China spent less than 5 percent of its GDP on
health care in 2005, compared to roughly 16 percent spent in the
United States and 10 percent in Canada, according to the World
Health Organization. "The amount of government spending on
health care is really low. It's less than $10 per person, per
year," said Drew Thompson, director of China studies and Starr
senior fellow at the Nixon Center. Per person expenditures in
the U.S. have topped $6,000 in recent years. Despite China's
Communist government, health care remains largely the
responsibility of individuals. Out-of-po