VILLAGE HEALTH-SERVICES IN RURAL CHINA

This article explores the reasons for differences between village-leve l health services in three poor rural counties. In two of them, many v illage health workers have received little or no training and they ope rate without regulatory and supervisory controls. They derive most of their income from agriculture and from providing curative services. In the third, village health workers are better trained and their activi ties are supervised. Although income from drug sales is important, inc entives are provided for preventive work. The article concludes that s trategies for improving village health services must include training, a revision of the system of payment of health workers and improvements in monitoring and supervision.