Abstract
PurposeThe main aim of the study was to measure and assess the efficiency of the healthcare system in Poland.Design/methodology/approachAn output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis model with a 2-years window analysis extension was used between 2013 and 2018. The analysis was completed with a determination of the sources of productivity changes (between the first and last year of the study period) and factors that influence efficiency.FindingsEfficient regions have been identified and the spatial diversity in their efficiency was confirmed. The study identified individual efficiency trends together with “all-windows” best and worst performers. Using panel modeling, it was confirmed that the efficiency of health protection is influenced by, among others, accreditation certificates, the length of the waiting list or the number of medical personnel.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the analysis was conducted at the voivodeship level (NUTS2), which was fully justified, it would be equally important to analyze data with a lower aggregation level. It would be extremely valuable from the perspective of difficulties faced by the healthcare system in Poland.Practical implicationsThe identification of areas and problems affecting the efficiency of the healthcare system in Poland may also be a hint for other countries with similar system solutions that also struggle with the same problems.Originality/valueThe paper explains the efficiency of the country's healthcare system while also paying attention to changes in its level, factors influencing it, spatial diversity and impact on the sector functioning.
Highlights
One of the most critical public policy issues in recent decades is healthcare
We identified the sources of productivity change between the first and last year of the study period by determining pure technical efficiency change (TPE), scale efficiency change, and technological efficiency (TE)
The modeling showed that the efficiency of the healthcare sector in individual voivodeships was not significantly influenced by deaths avoided in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and EBITDA of voivodeships
Summary
One of the most critical public policy issues in recent decades is healthcare. Currently, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has gained a strong resonance and justification (Tarantola et al, 2020). We confirmed the application of this approach in PWC’s Healthcare Efficiency Index (Kozierkiewicz et al, 2019) and in the research of Jacobs et al (2013), who stated that including the aspect of improving the patient’s state of health in the analysis, as well as the quality of services provided and financial management, is inevitable for a wellestablished study. Empirical results and discussion Data Envelopment Analysis – the results The efficiency of healthcare services in 16 Polish voivodeships was analyzed using the DEA output-oriented efficiency model with the assumption of constant returns to scale (the CCR model) between 2013 and 2018. We observed that in the case of almost all outputs, the maximum is approximately from three up to ten times higher compared to the minimum in each year This indicated that the size of the regional distribution was significant and that the voivodeships varied in terms of the examined variables. The modeling showed that the efficiency of the healthcare sector in individual voivodeships was not significantly influenced by deaths avoided in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and EBITDA of voivodeships
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
