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Spatial Inequity of Multi-Level Healthcare Services in a Rapid Expanding Immigrant City of China: A Case Study of Shenzhen

Author

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  • Wei Hu

    (School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Rd., Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Lin Li

    (School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Rd., Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Mo Su

    (School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Rd., Wuhan 430079, China)

Abstract

Since the onset of reform and opening up in China, large cities in the nation have been experiencing problems related to limited medical resources. These resource limitations are due to rapid population growth and urban expansion. As the country’s fastest growing city, Shenzhen has experienced a substantial misalignment between the supply and the demand of healthcare services. Numerous researchers have analyzed spatial inequity in healthcare services by focusing on the spatial accessibility of medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and community health service centers (CHSCs). However, the issue of inequity in healthcare services for vulnerable groups has largely been ignored. We chose general hospitals (GHs) and CHSCs, which provide direct healthcare services to residents, as the study objects. By performing spatial accessibility analysis using the gravity model and the two-step floating catchment area method, we investigated healthcare services inequity for vulnerable groups based on four dimensions: residential type, age, education level, and occupation. We found that the services provided by GHs cannot meet the demand in Shenzhen. This inadequacy is characterized by spatial centralization and neglect of those who reside in urban villages, who have low education levels, and who are employed in the manufacturing industry. In contrast, CHSCs generally serve a relatively broad population. This phenomenon is related to differences in the land and capital needs between GHs and CHSCs. Our study reveals that an appropriate adjustment of GH location could significantly improve healthcare services inequity. Therefore, to alleviate this inequity, it is particularly necessary to increase the number of GHs in the peripheral circle and in areas with large vulnerable populations, accelerate the implementation of the hierarchical medical system, and promote the transfer of medical resources to grassroot institutes through CHSCs. This study helps improve our understanding of healthcare services inequity in rapid expanding cities, which is of substantial significance for improving the planning and construction of medical facilities, facilitating scientific decision-making, and promoting social equity.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Hu & Lin Li & Mo Su, 2019. "Spatial Inequity of Multi-Level Healthcare Services in a Rapid Expanding Immigrant City of China: A Case Study of Shenzhen," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3441-:d:267799
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Kan Wang & Jianjun Bai & Xing Dang, 2020. "Spatial Difference and Equity Analysis for Accessibility to Three-Level Medical Services Based on Actual Medical Behavior in Shaanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Chenyuan Qin & Min Liu & Xin Guo & Jue Liu, 2022. "Human Resources in Primary Health-Care Institutions before and after the New Health-Care Reform in China from 2003 to 2019: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.

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