[Investigation of the status of ophthalmology in China].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the quantity, constitution, distribution, human resources, medical service, equipment utilization conditions of our ophthalmic organizations.


METHODS
Adopt the ophthalmology status survey forms developed by the Department of Health Administration of Ministry of Health and Office of National Committee for Prevention of Blindness to investigate the registered medical treatment organizations in the whole mainland of China in 1996. The collected data were analyzed using SAS software.


RESULTS
There were 4,151 ophthalmological organizations, 43,204 beds for ophthalmic patients, 22,577 eye doctors, and 16,448 ophthalmic nurses in China in 1996. 41.55% of eye doctors worked in the general hospitals above the county level.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of ophthalmic organizations and human resource is uneven. It may be the main cause to restrict the activities for prevention of blindness in China.
Zhang
Wen-bin
WB
Department of Health Administration, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. wbzhang@mails.tjmu.edu.cn
Shan
Ou-qi
OQ
Qi
Yan
Y
Zhang
Rui
R
Du
Shu-hua
SH
Chen
Mao-sheng
MS
D001766:Blindness / Q000517:prevention & control; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources; D006307:Health Systems Agencies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology; D000078329:Workforce