title: Access to and affordability of healthcare for TB patients in China: issues and challenges.
abstract: This paper introduces the background, aim and objectives of the project entitled "China-the Gates Foundation Collaboration on TB Control in China" that has been underway for many years. It also summarizes the key findings of the nine papers included in this special issue, which used data from the baseline survey of Phase II of the project. Data were collected from the survey of TB and MDR-TB patients, from designated hospitals, health insurance agencies and the routine health information systems, as well as key informant interviews and focus group discussions with relevant key stakeholders. Key issues discussed in this series of papers include the uses of TB services and anti-TB medicines and their determining factors related to socio-economic and health systems development; expenditures on TB care and the financial burden incurred on TB patients; and the impact of health insurance schemes implemented in China on financial protection.
authors.affiliation: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, USA. Shenglan.tang@duke.edu.|Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, China. Shenglan.tang@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Shenglan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: National Center for TB control and prevention, China CDC, No 155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China. wanglx@chinatb.org.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA. hong.wang@gatesfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Beijing office, Beijing, China. Daniel.chin@gatesfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy
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