Trends and equity of health human resource allocation in the county-level centers for disease control and prevention in China from 2019 to 2023

ObjectiveTo analyze the current status and equity of human resource allocation in centers for disease control and prevention (CDCs) at the county level in China, thereby providing reference for promoting the high-quality development of county-level CDCs. MethodsThe data were collected from the National Disease Prevention and Control Integrated Management System and the 2019–2023 Statistical Yearbooks. The Gini coefficient, Theil index, and health resource density index were adopted to analyze the current status and equity of human resource allocation in China′s county-level CDCs in the dimensions of population, geography, and economy. ResultsIn 2023, the staff size and ratio in China′s county-level CDCs reached 162 836 and 1.16 per 10 000, respectively, both demonstrating consistent year-on-year growth. The Gini coefficient of all regions was less than 0.2 according to population distribution, less than 0.3 according to economic level distribution, less than 0.4 in eastern and central China and close to 0.6 in western China according to geographical area distribution. The Theil index across regions was approximately 0.36 in the geographical dimension, and 0.02 and 0.07 in the population and economic dimensions, respectively. For population and geographical dimensions, the intra-regional contribution exceeded that between regions, while the opposite pattern held for the economic dimension. The national and regional health resource density index showed an increasing trend year by year. ConclusionsThe staff size in China′s county-level CDCs has shown sustained growth. Their distribution remains relatively equitable across population and economic dimensions, but exhibits weaker equity in the geographical dimension. Efforts should focus on promoting intra-regional coordination and integration of human resources to reduce disparities within regions.