For its level of socioeconomicdevelopment, China has widely been perceived as a countrywith an enviable record in public health. Recently, thereare encouraging signs that health has become an importantpriority in the government s agenda, bringing multiplegovernment agencies into a more cooperative relationship,and providing the Bank greater opportunity to engage thecountry in policy dialogues to more effectively in improvehealth outcomes and financing in a more equitable andsustainable way. Since China became a member in 1980, theWorld Bank's program of assistance for health hasconsisted of 11 projects (involving commitments of 808million dollars of International Development Association(IDA) credits and 139 million dollars of International Bankfor Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loans) and 3economic and sector work (ESW) reviews. This wascomplemented by the China network for training and researchin health economics and health financing set up in 1991, andjointly funded by the Chinese Government and World BankInstitute (WBI). There have also been various initiativessupported by the health anchor some of which include tobaccocontrol, tuberculosis control, and indoor air pollution.Attempts to increase budget allocations to counties andtownships to improve health systems performance are nowbeing pursued more aggressively by the Bank. The Bank shouldbe more involved with upstream policy advice and reachingthe decision-makers who control broader fiscal and economic policies.
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