As U.S. lawmakers engage in a debate over healthcare reform, Chinese authorities are also attempting to fix their system. Over the past five years, the government has tried to provide coverage to more of its 1.4 billion people. But even people covered by a minimal health insurance program are often left with big hospital bills and must pay for most outpatient services and medication. In addition, more than 300 million people do not have any health insurance. The gap in the quality of care has been steadily growing, too, the Washington Post reports.
