The Fairness of Human Resource Allocation of Geriatric General Practitioners in China under the Background of Population Aging
摘要
Background China entered an aging society in 1999, characterized by rapid growth rate, large population base, and the distinctive pattern of "aging before affluence". The intensifying aging trend poses significant challenges to the pension system, making the implementation of elderly health management a scientifically sound response strategy. As gatekeepers of primary healthcare, general practitioners play a pivotal role in advancing elderly health management and implementing the "comprehensive health management" philosophy, serving as the primary force in addressing aging-related challenges. Objective This study investigated the dynamic geographical distribution and equity disparities in the allocation of geriatric general practitioner human resources across China from 2012 to 2021, while analyzing the influencing factors of human resource allocation levels. The findings aim to provide evidence-based references for policymakers to formulate scientific human resource allocation strategies for elderly healthcare services. Methods This study collected relevant data from the China Statistical Yearbook and China Health Statistics Yearbook spanning 2013 to 2022. By calculating the changing trends of Gini coefficients and Theil indices based on the total and elderly population distributions, we assessed the equity in human resource allocation of geriatric general practitioners. Furthermore, a two-way fixed effects panel model was constructed to examine the province-level allocation of general practice human resources across various regions. Results During the period from 2012 to 2021, the total number of general practitioners in China increased by 325 074, with all provinces demonstrating varying degrees of growth in their general practitioner workforce. The number of general practitioners per 10 000 elderly population reached 21.66, while the Gini coefficient decreased from 0.38 to 0.33. Both the overall Theil index and its inter-group and intra-group