Abstract
Background: The efficiency of primary health care services is drawing increased attention worldwide, especially in developing countries. Health care reform in China has moved into the ‘deep water zone’ phase and is facing the dilemma of inefficiency in primary health care services, which is a critical challenge for universal health coverage.
Methods: In this study, we estimate the efficiency of primary health care services in China and its determinants. A combination of a super-SBM (Slack-Based Measure) model, a Malmquist productivity index model and a Tobit model is used to study provincial panel data, and the results demonstrate the inefficiency of primary health care services in China and the variations in efficiency values between regions.
Results: Over time, the productivity of primary health care services shows a decreasing trend, mainly due to slowing technology change. Financial support is needed to improve the efficiency of primary health care services, but it is worth noting that existing social health insurance coverage decreases efficiency, while economic development, urbanization and education also have a significant impact.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that increasing financial support should remain a priority in developing countries but that reasonable reimbursement design, appropriate payment methods and comprehensive supporting social health insurance policies are key to the next step of reform.
Methods: In this study, we estimate the efficiency of primary health care services in China and its determinants. A combination of a super-SBM (Slack-Based Measure) model, a Malmquist productivity index model and a Tobit model is used to study provincial panel data, and the results demonstrate the inefficiency of primary health care services in China and the variations in efficiency values between regions.
Results: Over time, the productivity of primary health care services shows a decreasing trend, mainly due to slowing technology change. Financial support is needed to improve the efficiency of primary health care services, but it is worth noting that existing social health insurance coverage decreases efficiency, while economic development, urbanization and education also have a significant impact.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that increasing financial support should remain a priority in developing countries but that reasonable reimbursement design, appropriate payment methods and comprehensive supporting social health insurance policies are key to the next step of reform.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1173197 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Volume | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jun 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright © 2023 Zhao, Dong, Wang, Jiang.
Funding
Project research on improving the accessibility of public services in rural areas from the perspective of policy tools supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant no. 2662023GGPY002). The authors appreciate Zhe Cheng, a PhD from the Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, who provided helpful comments and suggestions for this research.
Keywords
- efficiency
- primary health care services
- determinants
- financial support
- social health insurance
