LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR EQUITABLE CLINICAL SKILL TRANSFER IN PERINATAL CARE: A CROSS-REGIONAL COLLABORATION MODEL

Abstract

This study explores the legal and institutional architectures governing skill transfer mechanisms in maternal-child healthcare capacity building under China’s interprovincial collaboration framework. Through a systematic analysis of policy documents (2020–2023), including interregional agreements, standardized training protocols, and cross-jurisdictional partnership accords, four critical legal dimensions emerge: (1) development of competency metrics anchored in evidence-based clinical criteria; (2) liability demarcation protocols for telemedicine education addressing cross-border malpractice jurisdiction; 3) intellectual property regimes governing co-developed pedagogical resources with adaptive revenue-sharing mechanisms; and (4) equity-driven implementation frameworks for disseminating standardized neonatal resuscitation algorithms. Adopting a mixed-methodology design, the research integrates qualitative analysis of five provincial collaborative networks (e.g., Guangdong-Hunan Health Corridor and Yangtze Delta Consortium) with quantitative assessments of 320 healthcare professionals across tertiary hospitals. Empirical results demonstrate that structured interprovincial agreements enhance skill parity by 34% (p<0.01) in resource-limited regions relative to informal collaborations, particularly in perinatal ultrasound competency development. Persistent challenges include jurisdictional conflicts in telemedicine licensure reciprocity and sustainability of resource-sharing mechanisms post-initial funding cycles. The findings inform proposed amendments to national health collaboration guidelines, advocating for: (1) performance-contingent funding models with quarterly competency verification; (2) blockchain-enabled credential authentication systems for interregional knowledge transfer; (3) rotating expert committees for protocol standardization; and 4) AI-driven gap analysis tools for provincial maternal care networks.