Geographic variations, temporal trends, and equity in healthcare resource allocation in China, 2010–21

作者：Shaohua Yin, Zhenlin Liu, Sujuan Yu, Ying Li, Ji An, Dong Wang, Hongjia Yan, Ying Xiao, Xu Feng, Yun Tian, Xiaoxiao Luan · 发表于：Journal of Global Health · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.7189/jogh.15.04008 · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Healthcare Systems and Reforms、Global Health Care Issues、Healthcare Policy and Management

Background: Inequity in healthcare resources has been identified as a global public health priority, yet the geographic variations and temporal trends in distribution and inequity in China remain unclear. We aimed to investigate these variations and temporal trends in healthcare resources and evaluate inequity in healthcare resource allocation in China. Methods: In this nationwide descriptive study, we used provincial-level data on healthcare infrastructure, human, and service resources from 31 provinces of mainland China, publicly released by the National Health Commission of China between 2010-21. We assessed the spatial autocorrelation of healthcare infrastructure, human, and service resources using Moran's I index, and identified spatial clusters of resource allocation. We evaluated the equity in healthcare resource allocation using the Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, and Theil index by population and geographic dimensions. Results: Between 2010-21, the density of healthcare infrastructure and human resources in China increased, with the average stay decreasing from 10.5 to 9.2 days. There were substantial regional disparities, with higher resource density exhibited in eastern regions compared to western regions. Spatial autocorrelation was more pronounced for the density of practising (assistant) physicians (Moran's I = 0.465; P < 0.001), practising physicians (Moran's I = 0.351; P < 0.001), and bed occupancy rate (Moran's I = 0.256; P < 0.001), with significant geograph...