Human resources (HR) are one of the most important components determining performance of public health system. The aim of this study was to assess adequacy of HR of local public health agencies to meet the needs emerging from health care reforms in Georgia.We used the Human Resources for Health Action Framework, which includes six components: HR management, policy, finance, education, partnerships and leadership. The study employed: (a) quantitative methods: from September to November 2004, 30 randomly selected district Centers of Public Health (CPH) were surveyed through face-to-face interviews with the CPH director and one public health worker randomly selected from all professional staff; and (b) qualitative methods: in November 2004, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were held among 3 groups: a) 12 district public health professionals, b) 11 directors of district public health centers, and c) 10 policy makers at central level.There was an unequal distribution of public health workers across selected institutions, with lack of professionals in remote rural district centers and overstaffing in urban centers. Survey respondents disagreed or were uncertain that public health workers possess adequate skills and knowledge necessary for delivery of public health programs. FGDs shed additional light on the survey findings that there is no clear vision and plans on HR development. Limited budget, poor planning, and ignorance from the local government were mentioned as main reasons for inadequate staffing. FGD participants were concerned with lack of good training institutions and training programs, lack of adequate legislation for HR issues, and lack of necessary resources for HR development from the government.After ten years of public health system reforms in Georgia, the public health workforce still has major problems such as irrational distribution and inadequate knowledge and skills. There is an urgent need for re-training and training programs and development of conducive policy environment with sufficient resources to address these problems and assure adequate functionality of public health programs.

To analyze the equity and efficiency of public health resource allocation in China from 2018 to 2022, and to provide a scientific basis for promoting the development of public health resources in China.Data on public health resources of 31 provincial-level administrative regions in mainland China were extracted from 2018 to 2022, and descriptive analysis, Theil index, and health resource agglomeration degree (HRAD) were used to analyze the equity, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to analyze the efficiency.The Theil index of public health resource allocation by population in China ranges from 0.006 to 0.049, and the Theil index contribution rate of the number of beds, health technicians, licensed (assistant) physicians, and registered nurses within region is less than 28.76%. The Theil index of public health resource allocation by geography in China ranges from 0.274 to 0.624, and the Theil index contribution rate of the number of institutions, the number of beds, health technicians, licensed (assistant) physicians, and registered nurses within region is more than 77.05%. The HRAD of public health resources is more than 2.18 in the eastern and central regions, while the HRAD of public health resources is less than 1 in the northeastern and western regions. The overall HRAD/population agglomeration degree (PAD) is less than 1 in the northeastern and eastern regions, and greater than 1 in the central and western regions overall. The scale efficiency and overall efficiency of public health resource allocation in China are not 1, the returns to scale are decreasing, and the DEA is relatively ineffective from 2019 to 2022.The equity by geography is slightly worse than the equity by population, and the inequity by population mainly comes from between regions, while the inequity by geography mainly comes from within regions. There is a contradiction in the equity by population and by geography allocation in the eastern and western regions, and a congruence in the equity by population and by geography allocation in the northeastern and central regions. The DEA of public health resource allocation in China is relatively ineffective in 2019-2022.© 2025. The Author(s).

The public health workforce plays a crucial role in the development of health systems, particularly in enhancing the capacity of public health infrastructure. Understanding the current status of human resources in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is essential for establishing future development goals. This study aims to assess the quantity and equity of the human resources in China’s CDCs since the outbreak of COVID-19, with the goal of promoting a more equitable distribution of the CDC workforce and enhancing the capacity to respond effectively to major public health emergencies.

Rapid economic development and urbanization in China have improved population health outcomes, but exacerbated inequalities in the allocation of public health human resources (PHHR). Existing studies largely rely on static measures and offer limited insights into the mechanisms driving these disparities. This study systematically identifies and quantifies the determinants influencing public health workforce allocation in China, aiming to provide empirical evidence to guide policy interventions.This study analyzed the allocation of PHHR across 31 Chinese provinces from 2018 to 2022, employing four inequality indices: Gini coefficients (Gini), concentration index (CI), absolute Gini (AGini), and absolute concentration index (ACI). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and bivariate correlation analyses were used to assess temporal and regional variations. The recentered influence function-index-ordinary least squares (RIF-I-OLS) method was applied to decompose these inequality indices. This approach quantified the contributions of key factors, including the illiteracy rate among the population aged 15 years and above, government health expenditure, number of professional public health institutions (PPHI), mortality rate from Class A and B infectious diseases (IDs), and life expectancy (LE), while distinguishing between characteristic effects and coefficient effects.Between 2018 and 2019, inequity in PHHR allocation increased (Gini: 0.3792-0.3844; CI 0.0215-0.0495). In contrast, from 2019 to 2022, allocation equity improved (Gini: 0.3715; CI 0.0279). A greater number of PPHIs, a lower mortality rate of class A and B IDs, and longer LE helped mitigate inequalities, whereas a lower illiteracy rate among the population aged ≥ 15 years and increased governmental health expenditure exacerbated disparities. Inequality in PHHR allocation during 2018-2019 was primarily driven by characteristic effects, whereas in 2021-2022, coefficient effects became dominant, underscoring the role of institutional and systemic factors.While the equity of PHHR allocation in China has shown modest improvement, structural and institutional factors remain key determinants of lingering inequities. This highlights the need for targeted policies to optimize the distribution of the public health workforce.© 2025. The Author(s).