Does the trade of medical products contribute to promoting human development?—An empirical analysis based on data from China and RCEP countries

Background As the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) Agreement deepens, the role of medical product trade in safeguarding regional public health security and promoting economic development has become increasingly prominent. Methods Based on data from 2004 to 2023, this study employs the stochastic frontier gravity model and benchmark regression model to explore the impact of China’s medical product export efficiency on the development indices of RCEP countries. Results The findings are as follows: (1) China’s medical product exports to RCEP countries exhibit simultaneous scale expansion, structural differentiation, and market concentration, with ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea as core markets and mid-to-low-end products dominating the export structure; (2) Trade efficiency evolution reflects dual mechanisms of institutional environment and technological capabilities, where governance levels and health system soundness optimize efficiency, while excessive liberalization and tax burdens increase friction costs; (3) Enhanced export efficiency indirectly promotes human development in RCEP countries by strengthening basic health service coverage, forming a “trade-health-development” transmission mechanism. Conclusion To enhance export efficiency and achieve synergistic development, we propose: (1) For policymakers: Deepen institutional coordination and establish a “trade-health” collaborative governance framework to amplify public health dividends; (2) For exporters: Implement a tiered market strategy and strengthen technological innovation to enhance industrial resilience.