Analysis of regional inequalities of basic medical resources supply in China

Abstract

As an important part of public services, the equal supply of basic medical resources contributes to realizing the equality of public services. Based on the medical statistic data of342 prefectures in China from 1997-2012 and related studies, the regional inequalities of basic medical resources supply have been examined by coefficient of variation, Theil Index Gini Coefficient and spatial autocorrelation model. This article also explores the causes of these inequalities and recommendations for future policy. Results show that:(1) Despite the regional inequality of basic medical resources supply in China is remarkable, there is still an apparent fluctuation and reduction.(2) The analysis of spatial patterns shows that it is the great changes in spatial distribution of HH(high value agglomeration) type areas and LL(low value agglomeration) type areas, that have mainly caused the regional inequality of basic medical resources supply in China.(3) The areas that have relatively abundant supply in basic medical resources are mainly distributed at central-western and northeastern China, while their parallel areas in eastern China are in the Shandong Peninsula and Beijing-Tianjin region.(4) Compared with the disparity of regional economic development, the inequality of basic medical resources supply in China is diminishing, along with the changes of their spatial patterns.(5) The regional inequality of medical services is regarded as the result of the medical and health system reform, the changes of nation's regional policy, large-scale population migration and unsuited resources supply system, and the special income elasticity of medical service requirement. To make proportional supply of basic medical resources, the departments concerned should establish a national unified social security system and increase the input of basic medical resources on the basis of resident population of each area. Besides, introducing the social and foreign capital into the security system should also be considered.