Improving the Doctor-­Patient Relation in China Through a Three-­Level Framework

This thesis discusses the controversial doctor-patient relation problem in contemporary China. The key issue it aims to address is how to improve the doctor-patient relation with efforts from multiple levels. This thesis reviews literature on China’s healthcare service as a way to identify the causes of the doctor-patient tension. It then recommends possible interventions drawing on international experiences. The recommendations follow a three-level—macro-, meso- and micro-level—framework. What this thesis found is that the tension between doctors and patients is not only the fault of the frontline health workers. As a result, interventions for its improvement cannot target exclusively doctor’s behavior. Meanwhile, since the doctor-patient relations problem is not unique to China, we should also learn from the successful lessons in the global society. It is not our goal to resolve the problem in China’s healthcare system. With the discussion in this thesis, we hope to show that there is the potential to alleviate doctor-patient tension in China with joint efforts in the society.