Contributions to a theoretical framework for evaluating the supply-demand matching of medical care facilities in mega-cities : incorporating location, scale, and quality factors

Abstract

The rapid urbanization and population growth in mega-cities have led to a significant increase in the demand for medical services, highlighting the critical need for a more efficient alignment between the supply and demand of medical resources. Previous research often focuses on singular factors, such as accessibility or quantity, as the primary criteria for matching medical services, without comprehensively considering the location, scale, and quality factors of medical facilities. Addressing this gap, this study develops a theoretical framework that integrates these three critical factors to assess the supply–demand matching (SDM) of medical care facilities (MCFs) with population needs. This assessment is conducted using geospatial analysis techniques with ArcGIS and Python. The study includes an empirical analysis of 134 streets within the Chongqing municipality. The empirical results reveal significant disparities in the performance of integrated medical care facilities (MCFs), as well as variations across the dimensions of location, scale, and quality. Central districts like Yuzhong demonstrate high levels of accessibility, appropriate scale matching, and satisfactory service quality, whereas rapidly urbanizing peripheral districts such as Yubei suffer from significant mismatches in resource availability and service quality. The theoretical framework contributes to the field of medical care research, and the corresponding empirical findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers to optimize the allocation of medical resources, improve healthcare accessibility, and enhance service quality across different urban areas.