Study on the spatial and temporal differences and influencing factors of out-of-pocket payments as a share of total health expenditure in China

The spatial distribution difference of OOP proportion in China is obvious. Factors such as demographics, economics, policy, and health service utilization can all significantly influence OOP. The government should further implement differentiated medical security policies, optimize the allocation structure of health resources, enhance the capacity of primary medical services, promote cross-provincial medical cooperation, and ensure that local residents can enjoy equal access to high-quality medical services and reduce their medical burden.