Background: Equitable and adequate access to primary care services is essential for reducing healthcare disparities and advancing social justice. In developing countries like China, achieving a balanced primary care provision across urban–rural divides, regions, and population groups represents a critical strategy for improving public health outcomes. Methods: This study integrates high-resolution population data, nationwide point of interest (POI) data, and aggregated individual survey data to analyze the spatial distribution of primary care facilities in China, evaluate their accessibility and equity, and examine the relationships among primary care accessibility, socioeconomic factors, and public health outcomes using geographic analysis and machine-learning methods. Results: (1) Primary care facilities in China exhibit significant spatial clustering and pronounced urban–rural disparities, with 23% of the urban population having access within walking distance; (2) while horizontal equity in primary care accessibility is relatively well-maintained for China’s aging population, vertical equity requires substantial improvement; and (3) primary care accessibility demonstrates significant but nonlinear associations with key socioeconomic indicators, including urban population size, GDP, built-up area, health insurance coverage, and public expenditure. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable insights for health resource allocation and urban planning policies aimed at achieving equitable primary care access.
He et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: