Regional Disparity and Patients Mobility: Benefits and Spillover Effects of the Spatial Network Structure of the Health Services in China

Liping Fu, Kaibo Xu, Feng Liu, Lu Liang and Zhengmin Wang
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Liping Fu: College of Management and Economics, Center for Social Science Survey and Data Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Kaibo Xu: College of Management and Economics, Center for Social Science Survey and Data Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Feng Liu: School of Public Finance and Administration, Tianjin University of Finance & Economics, Tianjin 300222, China
Lu Liang: College of Management and Economics, Center for Social Science Survey and Data Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Zhengmin Wang: College of Management and Economics, Center for Social Science Survey and Data Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Background: The distribution of medical resources in China is seriously imbalanced due to imbalanced economic development in the country; unbalanced distribution of medical resources makes patients try to seek better health services. Against this backdrop, this study aims to analyze the spatial network characteristics and spatial effects of China’s health economy, and then find evidence that affects patient mobility. Methods: Data for this study were drawn from the China Health Statistical Yearbooks and China Statistical Books . The gravitational value of China’s health spatial network was calculated to establish a network of gravitational relationships. The social network analysis method was used for centrality analysis and spillover effect analysis. Results: A gravity correlation matrix was constructed among provinces by calculating the gravitational value, indicating the spatial relationships of different provinces in the health economic network. Economically developed provinces, such as Shanghai and Jiangsu, are at the center of the health economic network (centrality degree = 93.333). These provinces also play a strong intermediary role in the network and have connections with other provinces. In the CONCOR analysis, 31 provinces are divided into four blocks. The spillover effect of the blocks indicates provinces with medical resource centers have beneficial effects, while provinces with insufficient resources have obvious spillover effects. Conclusion: There is a significant gap in the geographical distribution of medical resources, and the health economic spatial network structure needs to be improved. Most medical resources are concentrated in economically developed provinces, and these provinces’ positions in the health economic spatial network are becoming more centralized. By contrast, economically underdeveloped regions are at the edge of the network, causing patients to move to provinces with medical resource centers. There are health risks of the increasing pressure to seek medical treatment in developed provinces with abundant medical resources.

Keywords: health economy; spatial network; health inequity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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