Regional disparities and influencing factors of health production efficiency: evidence from China

作者：Hongwei Li, Ruixin Wang, Hongliang Wang · 发表于：BMC Public Health · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12889-025-23537-y · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Efficiency Analysis Using DEA、Healthcare Systems and Reforms、Global Health Care Issues

BACKGROUND: The health of the populace is a fundamental pillar for China's sustainable economic growth. Health production efficiency refers to the ability to maximize the health outcomes of residents given a certain level of resource inputs. It reflects the efficiency of resource utilization in the process of health production. This paper evaluates health production efficiency in China, analyzes regional disparities, and explores influencing factors. METHODS: After constructing an evaluation index system for residents' health production efficiency, this study employs the undesired output-SBM super-efficiency model to measure health production efficiency. Regional disparities in health production efficiency are analyzed using the Dagum Gini coefficient, while a dynamic spatial Durbin model is applied to investigate the influencing factors and spatial spillover effects. RESULTS: The findings show: (1) Health production efficiency is generally on the rise nationwide, with eight major economic zones experiencing an increase in provinces with high efficiency and a decrease in those with low efficiency, except for a downturn in 2020 caused by the pandemic. (2) The overall disparity in health production efficiency has been steadily narrowing. Intra-regional disparities among the eight major economic zones vary, while inter-regional disparities have gradually declined but continue to represent the primary source of the overall gap. (3) Health production efficiency exhibits significan...