Equity investigation of primary public health service for the migrant population

Objective To probe into the inequality found in primary public health service available to the migrant population and permanent residents. Methods With on-site interviews, 581 migrant workers and 581 permanent residents in a county in Zhejiang province were surveyed, to learn the inequalities between the two in the expenditure, access and outcomes of the public health service accessible to each. Results only 7. 8% of the migrant population ever had access to medical aid, a ratio far below that of the permanent residents; 40. 9% of the migrant population may turn down medical service beyond their affordability, a ratio far higher; for the migrant population, their ratio of gynecological checkup is 58. 7%, lower than that of the permanent residents (67. 7%). Conclusion Resources and financial allocation to institutions of public health should be enhanced, and social medical and insurance system should be developed and improved, in an effort to encourage the equality of primary public health services accessible to various sectors of the population.