Effects and Implications of Introducing Competition Mechanisms in the Delivery of Contracted Family Doctor Services

Abstract

Promoting contracted family doctor services is an important way to implement tiered diagnosis and treatment, and to safeguard people's health, as well as a cornerstone of achieving Health China 2030 goals. However, the development of this system is constrained by some problems, such as contracting a family doctor but making no appointments. Many countries have introduced competition mechanisms in the supply of contracted services in different degrees to enhance the quality of family doctor services. However, China is now lack of theoretical and empirical studies about introducing competition mechanisms inthe delivery of contracted family doctorservices. We reviewed the latest developments in theoretical and empirical studies involving the use of competitive mechanisms in the provision of contracted family doctor services, which will contribute to the study and implementation of family doctor system in China.

Keywords

• contracted family doctor services|competition policy|salaries and fringe benefits|reform of payment mode|incentive mechanism|performance appraisal