Has China’s hierarchical medical system improved doctor-patient relationships?

Background and objective Developing harmonious doctor-patient relationships is a powerful way to promote the construction of a new pattern of medical reform in developing countries. We aim to analyze the effects of China’s hierarchical medical system on doctor-patient relationships, thus contributing to China’s medical and health system reform. Methods With panel data on prefectural-level cities in China from 2012 to 2019, we used a time-varying difference-in-differences model to evaluate the effect of hierarchical medical treatment policy. Results Hierarchical medical treatment policies can significantly improve doctor-patient relationships, and this conclusion is supported by various robustness tests. And improving doctor-patient relationships can be indirectly realized by the optimization of resource allocation and saving of medical costs. In addition, the marginal effect of the pilot policy on doctor-patient relationships decreased with age within the city population. In focal cities and cities with high levels of fiscal spending on health care, the effect of the pilot policy on doctor-patient relationships was stronger. Conclusion While reinforcing the literature on the doctor-patient relationship, this study also provides a reference for further exploration of the pilot policy of hierarchical medical treatment and the development of new medical and health system reform in developing countries.