Long-term Effects of Primary Healthcare Provision:Historical Evidence from China's Barefoot Doctors
Based on the historical practice of the barefoot doctor initiative in rural China during the 1960s and 1970s,this paper examines the long-term effects of grassroots healthcare workforce development on individual health and socioeconomic outcomes.The empirical findings indicate that exposure to the barefoot doctors during early childhood(ages 0-5)significantly improves individual self-reported health in adolescence and later life and reduces the likelihood of being diagnosed with chronic diseases in middle and older age.Moreover,exposure to barefoot doctors during early childhood lowers the probability of health-related work cessation and household debt in adulthood,while increasing household income,wealth levels,and individual life satisfaction.This study highlights the lasting effectiveness of rural healthcare development in the first three decades of the People's Republic of China,suggesting that the strategy of strengthening primary healthcare provision and general practitioner workforce development is cost-effective.
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