For China to raise healthcare benefits for all it would have to raise its taxes which are extremely low compare to the west. Raising taxes promptly would bring its own issues though so it would have to be done in stealth like the west. On the other hand low taxes have their benefits and enable employees to put away more for future needs. I know many in the west with salaries the chinese would die for yet struggle to make ends meet just through paying energy, housing, insurance and tax bills

I heard in Sweden the highest earners now pay 60% in taxes. I'd expect quality healthcare for that... ..and a watch when I retire..water resistant

China's individual tax is pretty competitive with the rest of the world (0-45%) and fairly higher than some places in the west. Then consider the population, which in this instance will be an advantage. Think about Luxembourg, Oman, Yemen, Libya, Algeria etc all run their health systems off 0% tax. Most normal countries at least subsidise medication.

The problem with state heath insurance now is that there is too many private hospitals in play who would stand to loose if they had to settle bills with the government rather that individuals, and there is a very lucrative army of snake oil salesmen that are bringing in revenue in the health sector.

Let's face it, for a project like nationalised universal health care the will has to be there to implement it, and it's not. A similar problem in America I believe. Instead the issue will be dressed in excuses and every so often the bare minimum will be done to appease the poor, so the businessmen don't look heartless.

It's at odds with socialist systems like in Europe and it's friends the Cubans, who supposedly have the best health care in the world ran on a pittance.

The Scandinavians have renowned high taxes, however your looked after from cradle to grave.

That 60% will be for the big earners. In the 70's Britain had a tax rate of 83% on its big earners. If you look around those European nations, once you're earning big, you're taxed bigger. For those people though they wont have to worry about free healthcare, they're off to Harley Street, Rodney Street etc if they have the flu.

the problem here is just collecting taxes. only the salaried seem to pay any tax. company owners are not salaried. neither are low levels workers but the latter is tax exempted anywho.

May look good on the outside but with huge chunks of money earned going back into the state system it gives the state more authority and takes away personal financial freedoms - it becomes Orwellian state even totalitarian.

orwellian? wot like socialist sweden? i would pay thier levels of tax for their standard of living and welfare for aged people. the right wing pundits ahve convinced the middle classes that low taxes are good. and what has happened tot he middle class in merica? disapeering mate. being screwed as much as the workers. merica is getting richer, but not the bottom 80% which wraps up all of the working and much of the middle class too.

watch my lips, no new taxes. (only applies to highest earners, terms and conditions may apply).

Low income has a tendency to limit financial freedoms, as well as health care - what should financial freedoms be?

Claiming to be socialist and democratic but no one dare say a word about the immigration crisis there apart to close mates at the pub for the threat of being arrested and sued. The majority live in the same style apartment blocks, everyone has the same furniture, you can only buy alcohol during the week at certain times. I could go on.

An illusional utopia. Orwellian.