Edge list of China’s intercity healthcare “center–hinterworld” network in 2023

Source and Target cover prefecture-level and higher-level administrative divisions in mainland China, including prefectures, prefecture-level cities, autonomous prefectures, and leagues, as well as 30 directly administered county-level divisions that are not encompassed by these administrative units.

The network is directed, with edges directed from the “hinterworld” city to the “center” city.The table was derived by applying the relative connectivity method proposed by Taylor to patient-flow data. According to Taylor, when the observed connectivity between city i and city j exceeds the expected connectivity, city j is considered to have established a significant interaction with city i, thereby forming a “center–hinterworld” relationship.