Regional disparities in the distribution of Sudan's health resources.

Abstract

Equal distribution of health resources has been a core objective of both long- and medium-term strategic plans for the health sector in Sudan. However, the targets of these plans have not yet been achieved, resulting in weak performance of the whole health system. The unequal distribution of the health resources has resulted in significant regional disparities in provision of health care services. This study aims to describe and analyse the inequality in geographic distribution of public sector's physical and human health resources in Sudan. In addition, the study also aims to measure the relations between density of health resources and health outcomes. State-level data on health resources and health outcomes obtained from the Sudan Health Statistical Report of 2016 were used to calculate inequality indices, drawing Lorenz curves, and calculating Spearman's correlation analysis between health resource density and health-related outcomes. Our findings show that the distributions of health resources, based on population size, were highly unequal among the 18 states of Sudan. There is a crucial need to improve health status in the relatively under-resourced states, particularly in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. Moreover, the government needs to use health resource allocation models that take into account the population size and health outcomes variables in each state in future health strategies.