Assessment of demand for rehabilitation services and analysis of causes of the gap between supply and demand in China / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the overall demand for rehabilitation services from the perspective of the groups with disabilities, diseases, injuries and older adults, and explore the causes of the supply and demand gap of rehabilitation services. MethodsThe literatures in the field of rehabilitation were collected, summarized and analyzed, including policy documents issued by World Health Organization and relevant departments in China, surveys, and researches. ResultsThe demand for rehabilitation services caused by disabilities, chronic diseases, injuries and population ageing were vast in China, but many were still unmet. The main reasons leading to the gap included those population trend and health situation, the insufficient reserve of rehabilitation resources coming from incomplete development of rehabilitation service system early, and inadequate construction of disability reporting system, which could not efficiently meet rehabilitation demand with supply. ConclusionThe strategies to optimize the rehabilitation services system and promote the quality of the services based on the disability reporting system are warranted.