Assessing the Spatial Equity of Multi-Type Health Service Facilities: An Improved Method Integrating Scale Accessibility and Type Diversity

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Few corrections can be made to improve this very interesting and relevant article.

My suggestion is to mention why you chose to study elderly people, rather than children, for instance, or women with children.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study undertakes an empirical examination of the spatial equity concerning health service facilities for the elderly population in Hedong District, China, which is particularly relevant given the ongoing urban population growth and heightened concerns regarding residents' health. However, I think that certain key aspects merit further attention and supplementation.

Initially, the study exclusively considers accessibility in terms of pedestrian travel, without incorporating the temporal dimension associated with motorized or personal modes of transportation. It is worth acknowledging that older individuals may potentially access facilities more swiftly using motorized means, thus necessitating an exploration of both walking distance and time-based metrics, which are crucial factors for the elderly and have broader implications transcending the Chinese context.

Secondly, I think the practical utilization of the analysis findings warrants consideration. While recognizing the significance of spatial equity in health service access, the study should provide insights into actionable policy adjustments. It might be inappropriate to infer from the findings a straightforward recommendation for increased facility construction as a solution to accessibility challenges.

Thirdly, while the utilization of the Gini coefficient to gauge spatial inequality is valid, there is a need to account for intergenerational disparities in addition to age-specific considerations. Moreover, variations in national contexts should be acknowledged. It's imperative to recognize that advocating for moderate walking distances, such as 10-15 minutes, aligns with health-promoting policies and should not necessarily be perceived negatively.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I think the level of English is adequate, but the explanation of abbreviations needs to be organized in a table to make it more readable for the readers.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf