Economist.com

Economist.com: "One in 20 of the urban population, only slightly fewer of the rural population, and 84% of prostitutes were infected. Mao Zedong’s subsequent public-health efforts were effective but typically bullying. He all but eliminated syphilis and other STDs from China by writing off peasant debt, so women faced less pressure to turn to prostitution. He closed brothels and locked up sex workers in “re-education” camps. But less exposure to STD-causing pathogens then means that the modern Chinese population is unusually susceptible to infection now.

Nor does it help that China’s healthcare system has seen serious disruptions. Mao’s public-health system was dismantled virtually overnight in the early 1980s, without the introduction of alternative insurance schemes. It is improving slowly now, but there are few resources at hand. Estimates by the World Health Organisation suggest that the government spent just $22 on health, per person, in 2003, much less than the $96 in Brazil or $98 in Russia. When it comes to STDs, though, policies and spending only work when they are unimpeded by stigma. So it is encouraging that a national study of China has been published at all."

Mao's way is good for China. Public healthy is a essential foundation for the further economics and political development.