Should China Expand Its Medical Education Scale? Evidence From Comparative Research

• Published in: ECNU Review of Education Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 280 - 293
• Main Authors: Hou, Jianlin, Liao, Kaiju, Liao, Peng, Wang, Weimin, Xie, Ana, Yang, Ke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.05.2023; 华东师范大学; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: 20th century; 21st century; College Admission; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross Cultural Studies; Doctoral Programs; Educational Improvement; Educational Policy; Educational Quality; Enrollment Trends; Enrollments; Foreign Countries; Higher education; Medical Education; Medical Schools; Medical students; Pandemics; Physicians; Trend Analysis; Undergraduate Students; Workforce; Workforce planning; England; Singapore; United Kingdom > UK; France; China; Japan; international comparisons; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; scale of education; medical school; China; doctors; Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment,scaleof education
• ISSN: 2096-5311; 2632-1742; 2632-1742
• DOI: 10.1177/20965311221141450

Purpose This study compares doctor staffing level and the scale of medical education in China with those of other countries and proposes policy recommendations for future adjustments to the scale of China's medical education. Design/Approach/Methods This study employs a literature review and descriptive analysis. Findings China had 1.98 medical doctors per 1,000 people in 2018, ranking 85th out of the 193 member-states of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2017, China had 1.99 practicing doctors per 1,000 people, only ranking above Turkey (1.88) in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. China had only 10.28 medical graduates per 100,000 people—placing in the bottom third of OECD countries. China's provision of 1.4 medical schools per 10 million people was also significantly lower than the global average (3.9). However, the average number of students enrolled in medical schools (509) in China was significantly higher than the global average (160). Originality/Value Although the scale of admission in undergraduate medical education must be expanded in China, this needs to be achieved while controlling the average number of medical students per school and reducing enrollment in low-quality medical schools. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish new medical schools while improving the operating level of existing ones.