Spatial Distribution of Total Number of Medical Devices in Turkey: A Classification Analysis

Songul Cinaroglu,Onur Baser

doi:10.5530/ijmedph.2017.2.20

Abstract

International Journal of Medicine and Public Health,2017,7,2,102-106.DOI:10.5530/ijmedph.2017.2.20Published:May 2017Type:Original ArticleSpatial Distribution of Total Number of Medical Devices in Turkey: A Classification AnalysisSongul Cinaroglu, and Onur Baser Songul Cinaroglu1*, Onur Baser2 1Department of Health Care Management, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS), 06800, Beytepe, Ankara, TURKEY. 2Chief Scientific Officer, STATinMED Research, PhD-Professor, Columbia University, Center for Innovation and Outcomes Research, Department of Surgery, New York, NY, USA. Abstract:Introduction: Unbalanced distribution of medical technologies and devices between rural and urban parts of the country is a major problem for developing countries like Turkey. In Turkey, after the establishment of Public Hospital Unions (PHUs), legislative changes were made to ensure the autonomy of public hospitals. Aims: This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of medical devices in Turkey using PHUs as a decision-making unit. Methods: Data came from the 2014 PHUs statistics year book. The total number of PHUs is 89. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to classify PHUs according to the total number of different kinds of medical devices. A Euclidean distance measure and Wards method were used in the analysis. Results: Study results show that, in Turkey, PHUs consist of 2 different clusters. The first represents PHUs in rural Turkey, and the second represents PHUs in urban Turkey. PHUs which represent big cities of Turkey and have high population density are in the first cluster, and all other PHUs are in the second. Conclusions: It is advisable for health policy makers and health technology assessment authorities in Turkey to focus on the differences between rural and urban parts of the country during the re-evaluation of medical technology resource allocation decisions. Further studies could explore the accessibility, safety, and usability of medical technologies. We anticipate that these efforts will form a basis to improve the surveillance and efficiency of the medical devices market in developing countries. Keywords:Developing countries, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, Medical Devices, Public Hospital Unions (PHUs), TurkeyView:PDF (241.2 KB) Full Text

Highlights

Unbalanced distribution of medical technologies and devices between rural and urban parts of the country is a major problem for developing countries like Turkey
When we look at national institution reports about health technologies in Turkey, the Turkish Patent Institute (TPI) is an independent institution with a special budget under the Ministry of Industry and Trade
Cluster analysis results shows that there are 2 clusters according to the total number of medical devices of Public Hospital Unions (PHUs)

Summary

Introduction

Unbalanced distribution of medical technologies and devices between rural and urban parts of the country is a major problem for developing countries like Turkey. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to classify PHUs according to the total number of different kinds of medical devices. Conclusions: It is advisable for health policy makers and health technology assessment authorities in Turkey to focus on the differences between rural and urban parts of the country during the re-evaluation of medical technology resource allocation decisions. Further studies could explore the accessibility, safety, and usability of medical technologies We anticipate that these efforts will form a basis to improve the surveillance and efficiency of the medical devices market in developing countries. Studies have shown that incorporate patient’s expectations into the innovation process improves public health in many countries.[3]

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