Status Quo and Equity of Health Care Resources Allocation in China from 2016 to 2019: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

Background: With the development of the social economy, medical and health resources in China have increased to varying degrees. However, it is inevitable that health financing and health talents are shifting to developed areas. Because of this, this study analyzes the current situation and equity of China's medical and health institutions from the number of health care institutions, beds in these institutions and health professionals. From the perspective of people needs, it provides a theoretical basis for optimizing China's medical and health resource allocation. Methods: We featured the status quo of China’s health care institutions with the following three aspects–the number of health care institutions, the number of beds in these institutions, and health professionals, and used the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient to perform quantitative analysis into health equity, and finally built a theoretical framework for how to optimize the allocation of health care resources in China from the standpoint of demand. Result: From 2016 to 2019, it showed an overall growth trend in China's various medical and health resources. The growth rate of the number of health care institutions was slow, from 0.3% to 1%. The growth rate of the number of beds in health institutions gradually decreased from 7.14% in 2016-2017 to 4.79% in 2018-2019. The growth rate of health professionals, remained steady at 6% between 2016 and 2019. The number of health professionals, in the east in 2019 is about 1.5 times as many as that in the west. In terms of population distribution, the number of health care institutions, beds in health institutions, and health professionals, is close to the line of equality. Its Gini coefficient is in a highly equal state (G<0.1). However, the number of health care institutions, beds in health institutions and, health professionals is far from the line of equality in terms of area distribution. Its Gini coefficient is in a state of disparity (G>0.5). Conclusion: From 2016 to 2019, the number of health resources in China has steadily increased. The Gini coefficients of medical and health institutions, beds, and health technicians distributed by population are all below 0.1, which is equality. On the other hand, China's health resources are unfair in terms of geographic dimensions. The Gini coefficient of health professionals is close to a dangerous state, which requires attention.