个人收入与医疗服务需求及其弹性

Personal income elasticity of demand for medical service

通常情况下，当收入增长时，消费者对某种商品需求的增加或减少将做出必然的反映，两者之间增量的比即是消费者对这种商品的收入需求弹性。分析医疗服务需求收入弹性，从总体上讲呈弱势，高收入组弹性大于低收入组弹性；医疗费用占收入的比重是一个增长的趋势，贫困和低收入人群医疗费用支出占收入的比重高于高收入人群。收入影响医疗服务需求，医疗服务需求又制约医疗服务供给。因此，在进行服务规划时，必须考虑医疗服务弹性对医疗单位经营的影响。

Generally speaking, when there is an increase of personal income, necessary responses will be made on the rising demand for certain commodities or services. The ratio of the two additions is called income elasticity of demand. From an analysis, it can be seen that the income elasticity of demand for medical service is weakening with the elasticity for those of higher income greater than those of lower income. There is a growing tendency of rising proportion of medical cost in personal spending. That proportion is higher fot the poor than for the rich. The size of income does affect the demand for medical service which in turn restricts the supply of that service. Therefore, in making the service plans, the factor of income elasticity must be taken into consideration in its influence on the operation of the medical units.