Structure quality of disease control and prevention system in China from 2002 to 2018

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the achievement of policy goals and actual changes of representative structure quality indicators related to disease control and prevention system during 2002-2018 in China. Methods: Quantified policy goals of structure quality including the number of workers, the proportion with bachelor degree and working environment were extracted from relevant policy documents and the data about representative structure quality indicators, including finance, human resources and working environment, were extracted from health statistics yearbooks. Comparative analysis was adopted in this study. Results: First, the designed policy goals were partly achieved. The number of workers per ten thousand people was lower than 1.75 in 2015. The target proportion of workers with bachelor degree was achieved by four year later in 2016. Only average building area per person was achieved according to the goal set in 2009. Second, it showed huge discrepancy among the proportion of financial subsidy, average personnel expenditure per person, and the number of workers at different levels of centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) from 2002 to 2018. The development of county-level CDCs was more restrained. Conclusion: Appropriate policy goals regarding financial support, human resources, and working environment should be strengthened at national level and quality improvement strategies should be established in the CDC system, particularly for county-level CDCs.