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Technical Efficiency in the Use of Health Care Resources: A Cross-Country Analysis

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  • Anton Sorin Gabriel

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Alexandru Ioan Cuza University & Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, Romania)

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to assess the technical efficiency of twenty health systems from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). We used an outputoriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure the technical efficiency of the health systems using the latest data available on infant death and life expectancy as health outcomes. Our results show that technical efficiency varies across these health systems and this translates into potential savings of resources. The average efficiency scores for all heath systems were 0.98 for life expectancy at birth and only 0.821 for infant mortality. More than half of the health systems in the sample were technically inefficient in 2009 for both outputs. We found that 30% of national health systems were technically efficient for both outputs.

Suggested Citation

  • Anton Sorin Gabriel, 2013. "Technical Efficiency in the Use of Health Care Resources: A Cross-Country Analysis," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 60(1), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:aicuec:v:60:y:2013:i:1:p:1-12:n:1
    DOI: 10.2478/aicue-2013-0001
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    3. Breitenbach, Marthinus C & Ngobeni, Victor & Ayte, Goodness, 2020. "The first 100 days of COVID-19 coronavirus – How efficient did country health systems perform to flatten the curve in the first wave?," MPRA Paper 8872, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Edson Serván-Mori & Carlos Chivardi & Fato Fene & Ileana Heredia-Pi & Miguel Ángel Mendoza & Gustavo Nigenda, 2020. "Tackling maternal mortality by improving technical efficiency in the production of primary health services: longitudinal evidence from the Mexican case," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 571-584, December.
    5. Victor Ngobeni & Marthinus C. Breitenbach & Goodness C. Aye, 2020. "Technical Efficiency of Provincial Public Healthcare in South Africa," Working Papers 202013, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    6. Angels Niñerola & Ana‐Beatriz Hernández‐Lara & Maria‐Victòria Sánchez‐Rebull, 2021. "Improving healthcare performance through Activity‐Based Costing and Time‐Driven Activity‐Based Costing," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(6), pages 2079-2093, November.
    7. Christiana Brigitte Balan & Petronela-Simona Mantaluta, 2013. "Romanian Healthcare System at a Glance," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 9(3), pages 162-172, June.

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