ABSTRACT
Objective To probe into the total number and development status of respiratory physicians in China, and to analyze existing problems, for reference in making strategy and policy decisions in professional development of respiratory physicians in the country. Methods The basic information of China′s healthcare institutions and healthcare manpower in 2015 were provided by the Statistics Center of the National Health Commission. The number of respiratory specialists and their profile, drawn from such basic information, were subject to descriptive statistics. Results In 2015, there were 2.729 million medical practitioners ( including assistant doctors ) nationwide, 30.3 thousand among whom being respiratory physicians, accounting for 1.11% of the total. Among these respiratory physicians, practicing respiratory physicians account for 87.1% , respiratory physicians with a master degree and above account for only 19.7% , respiratory physicians with over 10 years of working experience account for 65.8% , respiratory physicians with senior titles account for only 21.4% , and 89.4% of the respiratory physicians work in general hospitals. Conclusions By the criteria of specializing in respiratory specialty over five years and being attending or above, the number approximates 14. 6 thousand nationwide. If practicing ( assistant) physicians specializing in respiratory specialty are also included, the number may hit 30. 3 thousand. Such a number, compared with other specialties, may be sufficient, yet their competence is far from satisfactory. Therefore it is imperative to build a standardized pulmonary medicine fellowship training system for their competence improvement.