Educated in setting broken bones, delivering babies, treating wounds and other basic medical needs, they brought health care to the lowest levels of society. It was a time of socialist idealism. For many Chinese the reforms of the past two decades have created a new way of life. Great strides have been made in reducing child and maternal mortality rates through national immunization programs and education campaigns.
Agricultural advances mean that foods once considered luxuries are now plentiful.
People are eating more and for the most part are healthier. China is learning, however, that market socialism leaves some people behind, and that rising food consumption brings with it health issues long associated with industrialized countries, such as cardiovascular disease. The largely market-based financing scheme clearly does not work in the poor area. To make a living they have to charge their patients. Each year over 100 million infants worldwide need immunizing against six different diseases.