Current status and equity of human resources allocation in pediatric healthcare of China

Objective To analyze the current status and equality of pediatric human resources allocation in different regions in China in 2010 and to provide a basis for decision making.Methods A mailed questionnaire survey on pediatric human resources allocation was conducted among all medical institutions providing pediatric services in 44 municipalities selected with random sampling across China in 2010.Lorenz curve and Ginin coefficient were used to evaluate allocation equality.Results The average number of pediatric professionals was 1.5 per 10000 populations and 0.03 per square kilometer in China in 2010, with a significant regional difference in the distribution of pediatric protessionals.The pediatric professionals in the institutions at county level or above had a relatively heavier workload.The Ginin coefficients were 0.259 and 0.302 for population distribution and 0.570 and 0.588 for geographic distribution of pediatric doctors and nurses.Conclusion The number of pediatric professionals was in deficit and the distribution of the professionals was irrational in China in 2010, suggesting the equity of pediatric human resources allocation needs to be improved.