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Research article
Curt Löfgren
Umea Universitet Medicinska fakulteten
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5348-7698
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Advancements in medicine leads, among other things, to increasing life expectancy. However, at the same time, health care costs are increasing, and this may not be sustainable in the future. Governments and health care organizations need to implement efficiency measures in order to maximize health outcomes within available resources. This study aims to compare the technical efficiency of health systems in Asian countries, and to identify “efficient peers” for each “inefficient country”: in particular, for Myanmar.
Methods
A DEA variable returns to scale output-oriented model was used to evaluate technical efficiency in thirteen Asian countries. The input variables were current health expenditure per capita, the density of doctors, and the density of nurses and midwifery personnel. Two output variables, health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and the infant mortality rate were (IMR) analysed separately. Myanmar may learn how to improve efficiency of its health care system through studying its efficient peers from DEA results. A review of relevant English language literature was used as a basis for informing a comparative analysis of the health systems of Myanmar and its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Results
Among the thirteen Asian countries studied, 38.5% and 53.8% of countries were technically efficient when HALE and IMR were used as the measured output respectively. More countries were efficient at reducing IMR than increasing HALE. Myanmar is one of the most inefficient countries, and it should look at the health systems of its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam, to make its health system technically more efficient.
Conclusions
The results of this study suggested that countries with inefficient health systems can improve their health outcomes without increasing their health care resources. As DEA measures efficiency only, future studies should take into account equity to assess comprehensive health system performance.
Keywords
data envelopment analysis, health care cost, efficiency, Myanmar, Asian countries
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A new preprint design is coming!
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research article
Curt Löfgren
Umea Universitet Medicinska fakulteten
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5348-7698
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
The most recent version of this article is available here.
No community comments so far
No comments provided
Version 1
Posted 10 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
The most recent version of this article is available here.
Background
Advancements in medicine leads, among other things, to increasing life expectancy. However, at the same time, health care costs are increasing, and this may not be sustainable in the future. Governments and health care organizations need to implement efficiency measures in order to maximize health outcomes within available resources. This study aims to compare the technical efficiency of health systems in Asian countries, and to identify “efficient peers” for each “inefficient country”: in particular, for Myanmar.
Methods
A DEA variable returns to scale output-oriented model was used to evaluate technical efficiency in thirteen Asian countries. The input variables were current health expenditure per capita, the density of doctors, and the density of nurses and midwifery personnel. Two output variables, health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and the infant mortality rate were (IMR) analysed separately. Myanmar may learn how to improve efficiency of its health care system through studying its efficient peers from DEA results. A review of relevant English language literature was used as a basis for informing a comparative analysis of the health systems of Myanmar and its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Results
Among the thirteen Asian countries studied, 38.5% and 53.8% of countries were technically efficient when HALE and IMR were used as the measured output respectively. More countries were efficient at reducing IMR than increasing HALE. Myanmar is one of the most inefficient countries, and it should look at the health systems of its efficient peers, Bangladesh and Vietnam, to make its health system technically more efficient.
Conclusions
The results of this study suggested that countries with inefficient health systems can improve their health outcomes without increasing their health care resources. As DEA measures efficiency only, future studies should take into account equity to assess comprehensive health system performance.
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