Research on the equity of health manpower resource allocation in the Yangtze River Delta region

TL;DR

This study evaluates the fairness of health worker distribution in the Yangtze River Delta region using statistical measures like the Gini coefficient and Theil index.

Contribution

The paper introduces a combined method using Gini coefficient, Theil index, and HRAD to assess health resource equity in the Yangtze River Delta.

Findings

Health human resources in the Yangtze River Delta increased from 2014 to 2022.

Equity in health resource distribution is higher when based on population and GDP rather than geography.

Anhui and Zhejiang provinces show lower health resource concentration compared to other regions.

Abstract

To analyze the equity of the current allocation of health human resources using statistical data on health resources in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The Gini coefficient quantifies the level of distributional equality, the Theil index assesses the source of inequality, and the health resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) measures the accessibility of health resources, combining the three methods to evaluate the equity of the current allocation of health human resources in the Yangtze River Delta region. Furthermore, trend analysis of fairness indicators was conducted using regression models.

Human resources for health in the Yangtze River Delta region have been increasing between 2014 and 2022. The Gini coefficient and Theil index in the Yangtze River Delta region are more equitable in terms of the distribution of healthcare resources based on population and gross domestic product (GDP) rather than geographical region. In Anhui Province, HRAD and HRAD/PAD (population agglomeration degree) were both less than 1. In Zhejiang Province, HRAD for health technicians and registered nurses was less than 1.

Human resources for health and healthcare ratios in the Yangtze River Delta region have continued to grow. However, the equity of health resources allocated based on population and economic factors is superior to that allocated based on geographical factors, and the equity of health resource concentration remains to be improved. To address this equity issue, it is necessary to comprehensively consider various factors such as population, geography, and GDP, and formulate corresponding measures accordingly.

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