Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China

IntroductionHealth equity remains a critical issue in regional development, particularly in areas with imbalanced economic, social, and healthcare resources. This study investigates the coordination among economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China, with a specific focus on...

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Main Authors: Xiuwen He, Kai Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1581834/full
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author Xiuwen He
Kai Lin
author_facet Xiuwen He
Kai Lin
author_sort Xiuwen He
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionHealth equity remains a critical issue in regional development, particularly in areas with imbalanced economic, social, and healthcare resources. This study investigates the coordination among economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China, with a specific focus on promoting regional health equity.MethodsData were collected from 86 counties in Zhejiang Province over a three-year period (2020-2022). A coupling coordination degree (CCD) model was employed to quantitatively assess the level of integration among the three systems—economic, social, and healthcare.ResultsThe analysis reveals that counties with robust social assistance mechanisms and accessible healthcare services consistently demonstrate higher CCD values, indicating better system coordination. In contrast, economically underdeveloped regions struggle to achieve synergy among the systems. Notably, persistent disparities are observed in mountainous and island counties, where coordination remains weak despite overall improvements across the province.DiscussionThe findings underscore the importance of targeted policy interventions to bridge regional disparities. Integrating social welfare programs with healthcare infrastructure is essential to enhance system coordination and promote equitable access. These insights offer practical guidance for policymakers seeking to address healthcare inequality and support balanced regional development.
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spelling doaj-art-ae2eded3bc2d4517949f209a489ed9d72025-08-20T03:22:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15818341581834Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, ChinaXiuwen He0Kai Lin1Public Health College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaZhejiang Evaluation Centre for Medical Service and Administration, Hangzhou, ChinaIntroductionHealth equity remains a critical issue in regional development, particularly in areas with imbalanced economic, social, and healthcare resources. This study investigates the coordination among economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China, with a specific focus on promoting regional health equity.MethodsData were collected from 86 counties in Zhejiang Province over a three-year period (2020-2022). A coupling coordination degree (CCD) model was employed to quantitatively assess the level of integration among the three systems—economic, social, and healthcare.ResultsThe analysis reveals that counties with robust social assistance mechanisms and accessible healthcare services consistently demonstrate higher CCD values, indicating better system coordination. In contrast, economically underdeveloped regions struggle to achieve synergy among the systems. Notably, persistent disparities are observed in mountainous and island counties, where coordination remains weak despite overall improvements across the province.DiscussionThe findings underscore the importance of targeted policy interventions to bridge regional disparities. Integrating social welfare programs with healthcare infrastructure is essential to enhance system coordination and promote equitable access. These insights offer practical guidance for policymakers seeking to address healthcare inequality and support balanced regional development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1581834/fullhealth equityhealth services accessibilityfuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysiscoupling coordinationregional health
spellingShingle Xiuwen He
Kai Lin
Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
Frontiers in Public Health
health equity
health services accessibility
fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
coupling coordination
regional health
title Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
title_full Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
title_fullStr Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
title_full_unstemmed Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
title_short Coupling coordination and regional health equity: an empirical study of economic, social, and healthcare systems in Zhejiang Province, China
title_sort coupling coordination and regional health equity an empirical study of economic social and healthcare systems in zhejiang province china
topic health equity
health services accessibility
fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
coupling coordination
regional health
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1581834/full
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