Objective:To systematically evaluate the fairness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) healthcare resource allocation at the prefecture-level in China using the healthcare resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) method, so as to provide empirical evidence for optimizing resource distribution.Methods:Data on TCM healthcare resources (including the number of TCM institutions, public TCM hospitals, TCM hospital beds, and TCM healthcare technicians) were collected from 333 prefecture-level regions in 2023. The HRAD method was employed to assess fairness in geographic allocation (HRAD i) and population-based allocation (HRAD i/PAD i). A multi-indicator comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the entropy weight method to determine weighting coefficients. Results:Significant disparities were observed in the geographic agglomeration of TCM resources (HRAD i) in China. Resource-rich regions (HRAD i>5) were primarily concentrated in eastern and some central-western provinces, while resource-scarce regions (HRAD i<1) were mainly distributed in western, northeastern, and parts of central and eastern provinces. Analysis of population-based fairness (HRAD i/PAD i) revealed that most prefecture-level cities nationwide had ratios<1, with only 8 provinces having more cities with ratios>1 than<1. The comprehensive evaluation showed that top-ranked cities in the east (e.g., Hangzhou, Dongying, Shenzhen), central region (e.g., Taiyuan, Zhengzhou), and west (e.g., Hainan Prefecture, Alxa League) were predominantly core cities or sparsely populated areas. Conclusions:China′s prefecture-level TCM healthcare resource allocation exhibits significant geographic and population-based inequities, with excessive concentration in provincial capitals and developed cities. Urgent strategies are needed to optimize resource allocation, enhance fairness and accessibility, including promoting the decentralization of high-quality resources, strengthening regional collaborative support, enhancing talent attraction in underdeveloped areas, and leveraging information technology to improve efficiency.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the fairness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) healthcare resource allocation at the prefecture-level in China using the healthcare resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) method, so as to provide empirical evidence for optimizing resource distribution.Methods:Data on TCM healthcare resources (including the number of TCM institutions, public TCM hospitals, TCM hospital beds, and TCM healthcare technicians) were collected from 333 prefecture-level regions in 2023. The HRAD method was employed to assess fairness in geographic allocation (HRAD i) and population-based allocation (HRAD i/PAD i). A multi-indicator comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the entropy weight method to determine weighting coefficients. Results:Significant disparities were observed in the geographic agglomeration of TCM resources (HRAD i) in China. Resource-rich regions (HRAD i>5) were primarily concentrated in eastern and some central-western provinces, while resource-scarce regions (HRAD i<1) were mainly distributed in western, northeastern, and parts of central and eastern provinces. Analysis of population-based fairness (HRAD i/PAD i) revealed that most prefecture-level cities nationwide had ratios<1, with only 8 provinces having more cities with ratios>1 than<1. The comprehensive evaluation showed that top-ranked cities in the east (e.g., Hangzhou, Dongying, Shenzhen), central region (e.g., Taiyuan, Zhengzhou), and west (e.g., Hainan Prefecture, Alxa League) were predominantly core cities or sparsely populated areas. Conclusions:China′s prefecture-level TCM healthcare resource allocation exhibits significant geographic and population-based inequities, with excessive concentration in provincial capitals and developed cities. Urgent strategies are needed to optimize resource allocation, enhance fairness and accessibility, including promoting the decentralization of high-quality resources, strengthening regional collaborative support, enhancing talent attraction in underdeveloped areas, and leveraging information technology to improve efficiency.

OBJECTIVE To understand the development status and existing problems of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China,aiming to provide suggestions for the competent departments to formulate management policies for TCM pharmacists and promote the healthy development of TCM.METHODS The data on the number and professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China from 2019 to 2023 were collected.Descriptive analysis was employed to analyze the number,distribution and professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals across the country,and to measure the quantity shortfalls of the number of TCM pharmacists in these hospitals.RESULTS From 2019 to 2023,the number of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China grew slowly,with an average annual growth rate of 2.56%.However,the proportion of TCM pharmacists to the total number of pharmacists in public TCM hospitals gradually decreased,with an average annual growth rate of-0.65%.In terms of hospital grades,the number of TCM pharmacists in tertiary public TCM hospitals showed positive growth,while those in secondary and primary public TCM hospitals showed negative growth.In terms of hospital types,the average annual growth rate of TCM pharmacists in TCM hospitals was 2.22%,in integrated Chinese and Western medicine hospitals it was 7.97%,and in ethnic minority medicine hospitals it was 2.74%.The development of TCM pharmacists in different provinces was uneven.The annual growth rate of TCM pharmacists in Guizhou exceeded 10%,while the growth rate in Hunan and Heilongjiang was negative.In 2023,the number of TCM pharmacists per thousand population in public TCM hospitals was 0.03,indicating a relatively low staffing level.The professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals were mainly primary and intermediate,with a total of 67.33%.According to the calculation that the proportion of TCM pharmacists to pharmacists was not less than 60%,public TCM hospitals and hospitals of integrated TCM and Western medicine should be reconfigured with TCM pharmacists 6 212 and 1 288 people,respectively.CONCLUSIONS The number of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals is growing slowly,with insufficient staffing levels,relatively low professional titles,and uneven distribution and development across provinces.It is suggested that relevant competent departments strengthen policy guidance,increase the attention given by the state level to TCM pharmacists,strengthen the construction of the talent team for TCM pharmacists,improve the quality and optimize the allocation of TCM pharmacist talents in order to promote the high-quality development of TCM services.

Objective To observe c-Fos expression in visual cortex of infant rhesus monkeys with myopia induced by hyperopic defocus and preliminarily investigate the possibility of visual cortex participating in myopia. Methods Eight SPF grade healthy infant rhesus monkeys aged 20 to 30 days were randomly divided into hyperopic defocused group and control group,4 monkeys for each group. The monkeys in hyperopic defocused group wore -3 D spectacle lenses. The monkeys in control group wore 0 D lenses. The monkeys' refractive error,corneal topography, vitreous chamber depth were measured at the start of lens wear and at 2,4,6,8,12 weeks post-treatment. At 12 weeks post-treatment,the visual cortex tissues were removed for c-Fos protein measurement by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays. The results were analyzed semiquantitatively to compare the differences of c-Fos expression between hyperopic defocused group and control group. The use and care of the animals complied with Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center ( No. 2013-014). Results After 12 weeks'lens wear,the vitreous chamber elongation amplitude of hyperopic defocused group monkeys was more obvious than that of the control group ([0.93±0.24]mm vs. [0.72±0.09]mm;t=2.292,P=0.047). The decrease of hyperopic degrees of hyperopic defocused group monkeys was more obvious than that of the control group ([-3.23± 1.36]D vs. [-1.55±0.52]D;t=-3.273,P=0.006). The eyes of hyperopic defocused group monkeys appeared a remarkable myopic shift after treatment. The number of c-Fos immunoreactive neurons was less in the hyperopic defocused group than that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference between them ([1 843±191]/mm2vs. [2 296±503]/mm2;t=2.381,P=0.041). Western blot assay showed that the optical density of c-Fos protein in the hyperopic defocused group was significantly less than that in the control group (0.50±0.17 vs. 0.99± 0.22;t=-4.982,P<0.01). Conclusions Hyperopic defocus,as an abnormal visual stimulus,can induce the onset of myopia in infant rhesus monkeys and inhibit c-Fos expression in visual cortex. Visual cortex may participate in myopia induced by hyperopic defocus.