Patient-centered evaluation of integrated care and health equity: evidence from county medical alliances in Henan province

This study analyzes the effectiveness of integrated services in China's county-level medical alliance from the patients' perspective. It finds progress in resource integration and efficiency but identifies limitations in implementation, particularly in balancing equity. Socio-economic factors continue to affect the fairness of service utilization and patient satisfaction. Constraints in finance, human capital, and technology hinder the provision of more targeted services for vulnerable groups. To promote health equity, future services need to focus more on key populations and provide more targeted services, accelerate the integration of information technology, and expand service coverage to address the diverse needs of marginalized communities.