Work

Supply-demand and income-integrated perspectives of healthcare accessibility in high-density, transit-oriented cities

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Despite Hong Kong’s high-density, transit-oriented setting, healthcare-seeking travel burdens are disproportionate for low-income residents and accumulate with recurrent visits. This study addresses the limitations of traditional supply–demand-based healthcare accessibility by combining the Gaussian three-step floating catchment area method with an income-integrated accessibility measure that captures income-heterogeneous travel burdens. This framework addresses two questions: where integrated accessibility outcomes converge or diverge, and how transport-related built environment and socio-economic characteristics correlate with these patterns. The main findings are: (i) convergence clusters in the urban core and rural areas, whereas divergence concentrates in low-income, inner-city areas, affluent urban fringe, and well-connected new towns; (ii) MNL analyses show convergence arises where healthcare supply, transit connectivity, and income reinforce each other, while divergence arises where service distribution is misaligned with transport-related built environment and income levels. These findings demonstrate that healthcare planning should coordinate facility distribution with income-sensitive transport policies to address the accessibility mismatch.

Source: Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2026.105388

Authors: Zijin Zhou, Esther H.K. Yung, Shuai Yuan, Lingfang Shao, Xiqian Zhang

Institution: Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities, Good health and well-being, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, No poverty

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450