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Brazilian hospitals’ performance: an assessment of the unified health system (SUS)

Author

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  • Laura Botega

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
    Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (Cedeplar))

  • Mônica Viegas Andrade

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
    Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (Cedeplar))

  • Gilvan Ramalho Guedes

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
    Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (Cedeplar))

Abstract

This paper assesses the economic efficiency of Brazilian general hospitals that provide inpatient care for the Unified Health System (SUS). We combined data envelopment analysis (DEA) and spatial analysis to identify predominant clusters, measure hospital inefficiency and analyze the spatial pattern of inefficiency throughout the country. Our findings pointed to a high level of hospital inefficiency, mostly associated with small size and distributed across all Brazilian states. Many of these hospitals could increase production and reduce inputs to achieve higher efficiency standards. These findings suggest room for optimization, but inequalities in access and the matching of demand and supply must be carefully considered in any attempt to reorganize the hospital system in Brazil.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Botega & Mônica Viegas Andrade & Gilvan Ramalho Guedes, 2020. "Brazilian hospitals’ performance: an assessment of the unified health system (SUS)," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 443-452, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:hcarem:v:23:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10729-020-09505-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10729-020-09505-5
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mansour Zarrin & Jan Schoenfelder & Jens O. Brunner, 2022. "Homogeneity and Best Practice Analyses in Hospital Performance Management: An Analytical Framework," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 406-425, September.
    3. Cuoghi, Kaio Guilherme & Leoneti, Alexandre Bevilacqua & Passador, João Luiz, 2022. "On the choice of public or private management models in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Rita Matos & Diogo Ferreira & Maria Isabel Pedro, 2021. "Economic Analysis of Portuguese Public Hospitals Through the Construction of Quality, Efficiency, Access, and Financial Related Composite Indicators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(1), pages 361-392, August.
    5. Diogo Ferraz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Patricia Regina Manzine & Herick Fernando Moralles & Paulo César Morceiro & Bruno Guimarães Torres & Mariana Rodrigues Almeida & João Carlos Soares de Mello & Da, 2021. "COVID Health Structure Index: The Vulnerability of Brazilian Microregions," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 197-215, November.
    6. Bianca B P Antunes & Leonardo S L Bastos & Silvio Hamacher & Fernando A Bozza, 2021. "Using data envelopment analysis to perform benchmarking in intensive care units," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Dinesh R. Pai & Fatma Pakdil & Nasibeh Azadeh-Fard, 2024. "Applications of data envelopment analysis in acute care hospitals: a systematic literature review, 1984–2022," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 284-312, June.
    8. Mônica Viegas Andrade & Kenya Noronha & Catarina Barcelos & Henrique Bracarense, 2024. "Mapeamento e caracterização dos estabelecimentos geridos por organizações sociais de saúde no Brasil: construção da Base de Dados das Organizações Sociais de Saúde (BDOSS)," Textos para Discussão Cedeplar-UFMG 671, Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

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