Impractical

Chen Yizhou (Today Morning Express): A totally free health care system will inevitably lead to financial difficulties and even damage the current health care level. Eventually, the government will slip into a dilemma: If it wants to maintain the current health care level, there is not enough financial support; if it discounts current health care services, the public will be dissatisfied. Therefore, although Shenmu is right in thinking of providing free health care to locals, it's not something that can be copied by the rest of the country.

Society's need for public services is endless, especially in such a populous country as China, which has limited financial revenue and medical resources. At the current stage, a free health care system funded solely by the government is impossible.

In Shenmu's case, apart from the question of public morality, there is also the problem of equality and efficiency. A free health care system has existed in Britain for almost 60 years, but it is not as fair as originally thought. Besides, it has also resulted in declining health care quality and lower efficiency. Patients have to wait for a long time to see a doctor in Britain.

The so-called free health care system actually is at the expense of all taxpayers. Since financial resources are limited, we need to make use of the resources in the most efficient and fairest way. I believe a relief mechanism on the basis of a welfare-oriented health care system is better than a totally free health care system. For example, a special relief system designed exclusively for underrepresented groups. These systems will work effectively when the poor are unable to pay for their medical services and ordinary patients cannot afford huge medical costs. Only a well-developed and effective health care relief system will help to promote social fairness and service efficiency, and this is what the patients really want.

Zhang Tiankan (Yanzhao Metropolis Daily): Shenmu throws itself into a dilemma by treating the impossible as possible. If people do not need to fulfill certain obligations and only want to enjoy the benefits, this good thing will not last long.

When all the people have access to free medical services, some will take advantage and even if they are healthy, they might pretend to be ill and thus get free treatment and a good rest. As a result, the funds available will not be able to support the operation.

What we need is a system that makes health care affordable to everyone, not necessarily a free health care system. The two are totally different. When someone who is seriously ill has access to affordable health care, this pleases the public. However, a free health care system does not require patients to pay a cent for the service they enjoy.

The free health care system is impossible. If a citizen has the right to enjoy a free service, but does not need to fulfill corresponding obligations, it will lead to a kind of imbalance. An affordable health care system is one that requires patients to pay for the treatment of common ailments. Of course, those who are living in extreme poverty can enjoy totally free health care, but this will happen only after their poverty status has been authenticated. This will ensure people do not abuse the system.

If health care is free, people will rush to the hospital and doctors can only spend a few minutes on every patient. If that's the case, patients will feel dissatisfied. Besides, no doctor is able to accurately diagnose a disease in such a short time. Hurried treatment may lead to a series of medical accidents and disputes. Moreover, since health care is free, some people may abuse certain medical resources and thus prevent the seriously ill from getting timely treatment. Therefore, Shenmu's free health care scheme could end up in a blind alley.

Tong Dahuan (Oriental Morning Post): Encouraged by the free health care system, hospitals and patients tend to abuse the government's financial support. Eventually there will be a financial deficit and the current health care level will decline.

Meanwhile, when the government has sharply reduced expenditures on health care, it's quite possible that service quality will decline. People will find that hospitals are so crowded that they have to wait for one or two weeks or even longer to get hospitalized, even if they are seriously ill. If this is the case, the rich and the privileged might try to get treatment first and the poor will be excluded. This goes against the original intention of the medical reform program.