Shenzhen Registered Physicians Reach 71,479 in 2023

As of December 31, 2023, Shenzhen had a total of 71,479 registered physicians, reflecting a 7.28% increase compared to 2022. Among these were 67,690 practicing doctors and 3,789 practicing assistant physicians. The city’s health authority released this data on the seventh China’s Doctors’ Day, highlighting the growth in healthcare services. This significant increase in Shenzhen registered physicians underscores the city’s commitment to expanding its healthcare capabilities.

Breakdown of Practice Types

In terms of practice types, Shenzhen boasted 45,364 clinical physicians, 9,635 stomatologists, 3,199 public health physicians, and 13,281 traditional Chinese medicine physicians. Additionally, the city had 10,569 general practitioners (GPs), accounting for 14.79% of the total number of registered physicians. By the end of 2022, Shenzhen had achieved the goal of having four GPs per 10,000 people, with the current average standing at 5.48 GPs per 10,000 people.

Enhancing Healthcare Services

Shenzhen has made significant strides in improving the quality of health services. By the end of 2023, Shenzhen had 5,431 medical and health institutions, including 926 community health institutions and 159 hospitals, cumulatively offering 69,877 beds. The city’s medical and health institutions completed more than 128.84 million medical treatments last year, marking a 24.3% year-on-year increase. The contrast between the 71,479 registered physicians and the 128.84 million treatments underscores the demanding schedules faced by doctors in Shenzhen.

Improved Health Indicators

According to a white paper released by the Healthy Shenzhen Initiative Promotion Committee Office, Shenzhen’s key health indicators have continued to improve, surpassing the national average. The maternal mortality rate in the city dropped to 2.69 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 7.21 in 2022. The infant mortality rate also improved, decreasing from 1.18 to 1.12 deaths per 1,000 live births over the same period. Both figures are significantly lower than the national averages of 15.1 deaths per 100,000 live births and 4.5 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Additionally, the under-five mortality rate decreased from 1.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022 to 1.47 in 2023.

Future Goals for Healthcare

Shenzhen aims to further improve its health services, with a goal of reaching an average life expectancy of 84.53 years by 2025, along with three practicing (assistant) physicians per 1,000 people. This commitment to enhancing healthcare coincides with the annual celebration of China’s Doctors’ Day on August 19, which was first established in 2018 to honor the contributions of doctors across the country.