The Lancet Series on Health System Reform in China opens with a Comment jointly written by Lancet Editor Dr Richard Horton, Qide Han of the National People's Congress, China, Tim Evans of WHO, and Dr Lincoln Chen from the China Medical Board, Cambridge, MA, USA.
The Comment draws together all the themes in the Series, and concludes: "This report aims to initiate long-term collaboration between The Lancet and China, together with the China Medical Board and WHO, including critically important partners, such as scientists outside China who have strong interests in working with Chinese colleagues. The purpose of this collaboration is to introduce China's health system, achievements, and predicaments to the world and to foster scientific and institutional alliances that can strengthen the health — and ameliorate the adverse social and environmental determinants of health — of the Chinese people. We are at the beginning of this relationship. Our report, we hope, has the potential to catalyse progress towards enhanced human health and wellbeing in China."
A second Comment, by Chinese Minister of Health Zhu Chen, examines China's investment in biomedical science and technology, and also discusses the importance of clinical trials to test efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines. He concludes: "China's translational research capacity will be improved by combining its clinical resources and research strength, while creating an environment that considers ethical, legal, and societal input. While encouraging indigenous innovation, China needs to further extend international collaboration through personal exchanges and joint projects. We believe that all these factors will contribute to the improvement of public health in the 21st century."
Dr Lincoln Chen, China Medical Board, Cambridge, MA, USA E) lchen@cmbfound.org
Zhu Chen, Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China, and Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai, China T) +86-10-68792005 E) zchen@stn.sh.cn / liuyong@moh.gov.cn
Lancet Press Office T) +44 (0) 20 7424 4949 E) pressoffice@lancet.com
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