Analysis of the current pediatric healthcare resources in Chengdu

Abstract

Objective To analyze the amount and allocation of pediatric healthcare resources in Chengdu, and to recommend on local pediatric healthcare resources shortages. Methods Pediatric healthcare resources data of Chengdu came from pediatric relevant data reported regularly at yearend by the counties and districts to healthcare administration of the city.Data from such reports were subject to statistics with various indexes and descriptive analysis.Analyzed in focus was the distribution in 2015 of pediatric healthcare resources of the city among medical institutions of various types, levels and properties, as well as causes for such shortage. Results Tertiary hospitals hold 62.3% of the pediatric beds and 64.2% of pediatricians, and provide around 70% of the medical workload for pediatric outpatients and inpatients, upon the majority of pediatricians with master degree and above, and senior ones of/above associate chief physician titles; Tertiary hospitals have 58.7% of the pediatric beds and 49.7% of pediatricians, yet the outpatients served by specialized hospitals were 5% above tertiary hospitals. Conclusions The imbalance and shortage in total of pediatric resources in Chengdu result from stable source of manpower supply, high professional risk exposure, low income, and long training duration among others.Such measures as a better pediatrician development system, greater incentives for pediatric development, and enhanced development pediatric service consortiums, as well as greater support for private specialized pediatric hospitals.Those measures combined can effectively alleviate the shortage of pediatric resources. Key words: Chengdu; Pediatrics; Healthcare resources; Present status