Comprehensive analysis and research on medical service efficiency of traditional Chinese hospitals in western China

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals are an indispensable link in promoting the revitalization of the TCM industry. Efficient and equitable TCM hospital services can promote the quality development of TCM hospitals and better meet the health needs of the general public. This research utilizes data from Gansu Province from 2018-2023 as the study object, applies the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to assess the static and dynamic efficiency of Chinese hospitals, and applies the health resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) to analyze the equity of Chinese hospital services in Gansu Province, China. The study results show that in 2023, the comprehensive technical efficiency of health services in TCM hospitals in Gansu Province is 0.949. The average value of the total factor productivity of TCM hospitals in Gansu Province in 2018-2023 is 1.014, with an average annual increase of 1.4%, and the efficiency of the services is on an upward trend. In 2023, the HRAD and population allocation fairness ratio of TCM hospitals in Gansu Province were 0.029-5.126 and 0.219-2.065, respectively, and the HRAD and population allocation fairness ratio of TCM hospitals in Gansu Province were 0.402-1.173 and 0.388-1.131, respectively, from 2018 to 2022. The overall service efficiency of TCM hospitals in Gansu Province needs further improvement. The overall technical level still needs to be improved, and there is not enough equity in services, especially regarding geographical distribution. Therefore, based on relevant policies, this paper puts forward reasonable suggestions for improving the service efficiency of TCM hospitals in Gansu Province regarding pertinent efficiency indicators and fairness.