Table 1 Categories and descriptions of various types of cadres

Health workers

Refer to staff members who work in hospitals, PHC facilities (VC, THC, CHC), public health facilities (primarily CDC), and other health care facilities

In China’s context, the definition of ‘health worker’ is narrower compared to the WHO classification. The WHO 2019 international classification of health workers included five groupings: health professionals, health associate professionals, personal care workers in health services, health management and support personnel, and other health service providers not elsewhere classified. The WHO definitions for ‘health workers’ cover a broad range of occupations, such as health economists

Health professionals

Include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, intern doctors, and other health professionals not elsewhere classified. Those who engage in management, such as directors of hospitals, are not included in this category

Doctors

Refer to a type of health professionals who have passed a licensing examination and are registered at a health authority of county-level or higher-level. Doctors include licensed doctors (medical graduates who graduated with at least a bachelor’ degree) and licensed assistant doctors (medical graduates who graduated from 3-year tertiary medical education programs with an associate degree or 2-year secondary education programs with a diploma)

Nurses

Refer to a type of health professionals who have acquired nursing qualifications with at least a 3-year tertiary nursing education and are engaged in nursing activities

Pharmacists

Refer to a type of health professionals who are responsible for providing medication and pharmaceutical services