Inequality trends in the demographic and geographic distribution of health care professionals in China: Data from 2002 to 2016

China has long been negatively affected by a shortage and maldistribution of health workers. This study aimed to examine the national and regional trends in the demographic and geographic distribution inequality of health care professionals in China from 2002 to 2016. Based on data from the China Health and Family Planning Statistical and China Statistical Yearbooks, we calculated the Gini coefficient and the Theil T and Theil L indices based on the number of health care professionals per capita and per geographic area to measure the inequalities in their demographic and geographic distribution, respectively. The contributions by intra-regional and inter-regional differences on total inequality were explored within and among East, Central, and West China via Theil index decomposition. We found that the national demographic distribution of health care professionals maintained in an absolute equality level, and the inequality indices decreased gradually, whereas the corresponding geographic inequalities were severe and presented a worsening trend. Compared with nurses, physicians not only maintained higher densities but also maintained a more equal distribution. Intra-regional disparities within the east, central, and western regions were the main cause for overall demographic inequality, whereas both intra-regional and inter-regional disparities significantly contributed to overall geographic inequality. To conclude, the distribution equality of health care professionals by population was satisfactory, whereas the corresponding distribution inequality by area was severe. Different types of distribution inequality of health care professionals existed regionally and nationally despite their increasing quantities and densities. Factors beyond population size should be considered when the government introduces health workforce allocation policies.