Study On Allocation Of Medical Resources In Guangzhou

Study on Allocation of Medical Resources in GuangzhouBackground:Since allocation of medical resources followed means and methods of planned economy system, healthcare reforms lag behind the whole socioeconomic system reforms, there are many problems unresolving in the allocation of medical resources. Modern market economists hold universally that there is no excuse to believe that self-response of free market mechanism could realize the equilibrium between aggregate demand and aggregate supply after proposal of Keynesian theory, especially in the field of health care and services. Government has to establish macro-regulation on allocation of medical resources. Thus with the insufficient government input, weak restriction on social insurance and weak self-regulation in the market, it is a feasible and appropriate system choice to implement regional health planning to optimize allocation of health resources.Regional health planning in Guangzhou (from 2001 to 2005) that was compiled by the project group at initial phase was approved by Guangdong provincial government and, then, approved and implemented by Guanzhou municipal government. Encouraging achievements have been made by Guanzhou municipal health authorities after they adjusted the layout and structure of health resources. However, on the other hand, due to lack of feasible and concrete methods and processes as well as standards to approve medical facilities according to regional health planning, it cries for making an authoritative and detailed planning for medical facilities arrangements.As an important part of Medical Facilities Planning in Guangzhou, this study aimed at seeking for theoretical basis for reasonable allocation of health resources in Guangzhou. This project was supported and financed by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Health.Objectives:To systematically analyze demand and provision of medical services in Guangzhou, and their efficiency of allocation and utilization, some policy suggestions on the development and adjustment of medical resources and their theoretical basis have been scientifically made for medical facilities planning in Guangzhou.Methods:Systematic analysis was chosen as the general guiding principle . Of the whole systematic analysis, different methods of data collection and processing were utilized in each process, including household health survey, health services market survey, Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, ratio analysis, DEA, quantitative demand analysis, grey forecasting model, incremental probability matrix and transition probability matrix, literature review and panel discussion.Data sources:1. Guangzhou Health Statistics Yearbook and Guangzhou Statistics Yearbook from 1981 to 20022. Reports of size and workload of medical facilities from 1981 to 20023. Rural health service survey in 20024. Database of cover page of medical records of all hospitals in 20025. Health service market survey in Augest. 2003.6. The first and the second National Health Service Survey in 1993, 1998 respectively, and additional survey in Guangzhou for the third National Health Service Survey in October. 2003.7. Focus group discussion and panel discussion.Results:1. Health service survey showed that two-week prevalence rate was 15.46%, annual prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 23.58%, which presented an increasing tendency of prevalence and increasing demand of medical services, if compared with the figures in first and the second National Health Service Survey.2. Residents' utilization rate of medical services was decreasing, effective utilization was restrained. Two-week visit rate to the ambulatory services was 17.80% and annual admission rate to the hospital was 4.28%. Compared with the former two surveys, Two-week visit rate was decreased, especially in the urban areas. While annual admission rate increased dramatically, the growth rate was higher in county-level city than that in urban areas. Two-week non-visit rate (46.19%) and non-admission ra...