The Influence of Different Economic Development Levels on Unequal Allocation of Medical Resources: A Case Study of China

Research Article
Open access

The Influence of Different Economic Development Levels on Unequal Allocation of Medical Resources: A Case Study of China

Xu Zhou 1* , Xingyan Liu 2
  • 1 Sociology, Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), Zhuhai, China,     
  • 2 School of Journalism and Communication, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China    
  • *corresponding author s230032068@mail.uic.edu.cn
AEMPS Vol.192
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-195-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-196-9

Abstract

China has been a case study of economic success based on recent rapid economic growth, which, according to the GIS mapping data, has shown huge disparities in the regional development of healthcare facilities. The eastern coastal regions disproportionally share the benefit of the developments, while the western and central regions remain relatively underserved. This study proposes to investigate the dynamics influencing this relationship as they affect the availability of specialty professionals, hospital bed capacity, and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. The study uses national health statistics and peer-reviewed studies in a mixed-method approach to undertake a correlation analysis and make sense of the data. The study will rely on source materials using a literature review to understand what drives investment in healthcare resources and how to overcome barriers creating unequal access to healthcare resources. The study also intends to use the results to inform on strategies that could be adopted in these unique circumstances for China as a case study for improved infrastructure balance and equitable access to healthcare.

Keywords:

Economic development level, Allocation of medical resources, Regional differences, Chinese case, Mixed research method

Zhou,X.;Liu,X. (2025). The Influence of Different Economic Development Levels on Unequal Allocation of Medical Resources: A Case Study of China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,192,1-7.
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References

[1]. Wang, N. (2024). The temporal and spatial interpretation of China’s health financing: what do Chinese’ government “do” in new healthcare reform?. Health Economics Review, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-024-00551-1

[2]. Zhang, Y., & Ding, S. (2021). Analysis on Regional Differences of China’s Medical and Health Development Level. E3S Web of Conferences, 236, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202123603013

[3]. Du, M., Zhao, Y., Fang, T., Fan, L., Zhang, M., Huang, H., & Mei, K. (2022). Evaluating the Inequality of Medical Resource Allocation Based on Spatial and Non-Spatial Accessibility: A Case Study of Wenzhou, China. Sustainability, 14(14), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148331

[4]. Shao, L., Suo, Z., Song, S., & Lang, Y. (2025). Evaluation of the coordinated development of health resources, health service utilization, and the regional economy in China and analysis of influencing factors. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12394-5

[5]. Fu, L., Wang, R., & Dong, Y. (2025). The impact of the hierarchical medical system on medical resource allocation in China. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88558-4

[6]. Statista. (2023, March 1). Per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in China in 2023, by province or region (in yuan). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1093666/china-per-capita-gross-domestic-product-gdp-by-province/

[7]. Xi, Y., Ding, Y., Cheng, Y., Zhao, J., Zhou, M., & Qin, S. (2023). Evaluation of the Medical Resource Allocation: Evidence from China. National Library of Medicine, 11(6), 829–829. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060829

[8]. Ye, Q., Deng, Z., Chen, Y., Liao, J., Li, G., & Lu, Y. (2020). How Resource Scarcity and Accessibility Affect Patients’ Usage of Mobile Health in China: Resource Competition Perspective. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(8). https://doi.org/10.2196/13491

[9]. Zhao, Y., Qiao, Q., Xu, X., & Bian, Y. (2024). Effectiveness of hierarchical medical system and economic growth: based on China’s urban vs. rural health perspectives. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1364584

[10]. Zhou, J., Zhang, Y., Sha, Y., Zhou, J., Ren, H., Shen, X., & Xu, H. (2022). The Effect of the “Triple-Layer Medical Security” Policy on the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty of Rural Households: Evidence from Yunnan Province, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912936

[11]. Jiang, M.-M., Wu, Z.-Y., & Tu, A.-X. (2023). Research on the Cooperative Governance Path of Multiple Stakeholders in Doctor–Patient Disputes under the Environment of Information Asymmetry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021597

[12]. Chen, M., Chen, X., Tan, Y., Cao, M., Zhao, Z., Zheng, W., & Dong, X. (2024). Unraveling the drivers of inequality in primary health-care resource distribution: Evidence from Guangzhou, China. Heliyon, 10(19), e37969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37969

[13]. Guo, X. (2024). Analysis on the Imbalanced Distribution of Medical Resources in China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences, 60(1), 154–159. https://doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/60/20231205

Cite this article

Zhou,X.;Liu,X. (2025). The Influence of Different Economic Development Levels on Unequal Allocation of Medical Resources: A Case Study of China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,192,1-7.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICMRED 2025 Symposium: Effective Communication as a Powerful Management Tool

ISBN：978-1-80590-195-2(Print) / 978-1-80590-196-9(Online)
Editor：Lukáš Vartiak
Conference website: https://2025.icmred.org/Bratislava.html
Conference date: 30 May 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.192
ISSN：2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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References

[1]. Wang, N. (2024). The temporal and spatial interpretation of China’s health financing: what do Chinese’ government “do” in new healthcare reform?. Health Economics Review, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-024-00551-1

[2]. Zhang, Y., & Ding, S. (2021). Analysis on Regional Differences of China’s Medical and Health Development Level. E3S Web of Conferences, 236, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202123603013

[3]. Du, M., Zhao, Y., Fang, T., Fan, L., Zhang, M., Huang, H., & Mei, K. (2022). Evaluating the Inequality of Medical Resource Allocation Based on Spatial and Non-Spatial Accessibility: A Case Study of Wenzhou, China. Sustainability, 14(14), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148331

[4]. Shao, L., Suo, Z., Song, S., & Lang, Y. (2025). Evaluation of the coordinated development of health resources, health service utilization, and the regional economy in China and analysis of influencing factors. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12394-5

[5]. Fu, L., Wang, R., & Dong, Y. (2025). The impact of the hierarchical medical system on medical resource allocation in China. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88558-4

[6]. Statista. (2023, March 1). Per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in China in 2023, by province or region (in yuan). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1093666/china-per-capita-gross-domestic-product-gdp-by-province/

[7]. Xi, Y., Ding, Y., Cheng, Y., Zhao, J., Zhou, M., & Qin, S. (2023). Evaluation of the Medical Resource Allocation: Evidence from China. National Library of Medicine, 11(6), 829–829. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060829

[8]. Ye, Q., Deng, Z., Chen, Y., Liao, J., Li, G., & Lu, Y. (2020). How Resource Scarcity and Accessibility Affect Patients’ Usage of Mobile Health in China: Resource Competition Perspective. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(8). https://doi.org/10.2196/13491

[9]. Zhao, Y., Qiao, Q., Xu, X., & Bian, Y. (2024). Effectiveness of hierarchical medical system and economic growth: based on China’s urban vs. rural health perspectives. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1364584

[10]. Zhou, J., Zhang, Y., Sha, Y., Zhou, J., Ren, H., Shen, X., & Xu, H. (2022). The Effect of the “Triple-Layer Medical Security” Policy on the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty of Rural Households: Evidence from Yunnan Province, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912936

[11]. Jiang, M.-M., Wu, Z.-Y., & Tu, A.-X. (2023). Research on the Cooperative Governance Path of Multiple Stakeholders in Doctor–Patient Disputes under the Environment of Information Asymmetry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021597

[12]. Chen, M., Chen, X., Tan, Y., Cao, M., Zhao, Z., Zheng, W., & Dong, X. (2024). Unraveling the drivers of inequality in primary health-care resource distribution: Evidence from Guangzhou, China. Heliyon, 10(19), e37969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37969

[13]. Guo, X. (2024). Analysis on the Imbalanced Distribution of Medical Resources in China. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences, 60(1), 154–159. https://doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/60/20231205

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