The current status of village health worker practice and their remuneration: Based on survey in 18 counties of 6 provinces
10.3969/j.issn.1674-2982.2015.11.013
- VernacularTitle:村卫生室人员执业现状及待遇保障分析——基于6省18县的调查
- Author:
Xiaojuan ZHANG
;
Miaomiao TIAN
;
Kun ZHU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Village health workers;
Remuneration;
Village health worker practice;
Current status
- From:
Chinese Journal of Health Policy
2015;8(11):63-69
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To analyze the current status of village health worker practice and their remuneration in six provinces. Methods: After 18 counties (cities/districts) from 6 provinces are selected based on their levels of economic and social development, this paper uses self-designed questionnaires to survey all village clinics under the jurisdiction of these 18 counties. Results: The average numbers of village health workers range from 6. 79 to 19. 05 per 10,000 rural populations and 1. 36 to 3. 24 per village. In some provinces, more than 20% of the village health workers are 60 years old, and the educational level of more than 50% is technical secondary school and they have village health worker prac-ticing certificates only. The coverage ratio of medical malpractice liability insurance among village health workers in two western provinces is less than 11%. Except Jiangsu province, village health workers in the other five provinces have mainly joined the New Rural Pension Scheme ( NRPS) . Jiangsu province ranks the highest in subsidies for the services of public health and essential medicines per village health workers, and Fujian province ranked the lowest. Village health workers who are included in the administrative staffing management of township health centers account for less than 20%. Except Jiangsu province, more than 70% village health workers provide 24-hour service. The number of the outflow personnel is higher than the number of the inflow. Conclusions and Suggestions:The problem of village health worker aging is getting worse. Their education level, practicing quality and remuneration are low. This paper suggests the government not only improve the practicing quality and define the legal status of village health workers, but also in-crease the remuneration, incentives and job satisfaction of village health workers Further studies should be conducted in order to put forward a more practical advice about how to attract more health workers in rural areas.
