Objective To analyze changes and characteristics of medical income structure in public hospitals in China in recent years and to provide evidences for finding main items that affect the changes of medical income structure, rationally optimizing the medical income structure and controlling the irrational growth of medical expenses.

Methods The data on medical income in public hospitals in China from 2012 to 2016 were collected and analyzed with structural change method.

Results During 5-year period for public hospitals in China, the degree of structure variation in outpatient income was 5.83%; the income of western medicine, income from medical materials and inspections were the main source that led to the changes in outpatient income, with a total cumulative contribution rate of 76.33% for the three items; the degree of structure variation of inpatient income was 11.38%; western medicine income, medical material income, and inspection income were the main sources affecting the inpatient income, with a total cumulative contribution rate of 91.48% for the three items.

Conclusion The income of western medicine, medical materials and inspection are the main items that lead to the change of medical income structure of public hospitals in China. The management department should strengthen the supervision and control of the income of western medicine, medical materials and inspection income, improve the labor service income of medical personnel and further optimize and improve the medical income structure of public hospitals.