Saleh Mollahaliloglu, Sahin Kavuncubasi, Fikriye Yilmaz, Mustafa Z. Younis, Fatih Simsek, Mustafa Kostak, Selami Yildirim and Emeka Nwagwu
Turkish Ministry of Health (MoH) has Health Transformation Program (HTP). The purpose of this program has been to modify the structure of the current system in order to enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
Turkish Ministry of Health (MoH) has Health Transformation Program (HTP). The purpose of this program has been to modify the structure of the current system in order to enhance health system productivity, quality, and access in the Turkish health system. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
To measure the productivity, a data envelopment analysis-based Malmquist index approach was employed.
Findings
Results showed that the overall HTP have had a considerable positive impact on the productivity of general hospitals.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation is the availability of some data that might not be collected or reported to the MoH in Turkey.
Practical implications
This research’s findings will have an impact on reforming the health care system in Turkey to be competitive and efficient as possible.
Social implications
The research will have implication on reducing cost and provide value to the Turkish population.
Originality/value
This is one of the very few articles that targeted the efficiency of hospital system in Turkey.
Details
Keywords
Adnan Kisa, Fikriye Yilmaz, Mustafa Z. Younis, Sahin Kavuncubasi, Korkut Ersoy and Patrick A. Rivers
Poor people often experience a delay in meeting their healthcare needs due to their economic situation. As a result, delayed diagnoses and treatment may increase disease severity…
Abstract
Purpose
Poor people often experience a delay in meeting their healthcare needs due to their economic situation. As a result, delayed diagnoses and treatment may increase disease severity, increase the risk of death, and enhance disease transmission in the community. The purpose of this paper is to provide important information about health service delays among the poorest people in Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
A field study is conducted among the 92 poorest households in the Etimesgut region of Ankara in order to ascertain any delays in health services among the poor, as well as the factors related to those delays.
Findings
The results of the study show that 87 percent of the households lived on a daily income of US$2.15, and that household member's delay seeking healthcare services an average of 4.66±1.17 times in the past year. Reasons for delaying or not seeking healthcare services included the following: participants thought they would get better without doing anything (7.6 percent), by using traditional herbs (12.7 percent), by using pharmaceuticals already on hand (11.4 percent), the health facility was too far away (5.1 percent), and inability to pay (63.3 percent). Significant associations are found between the delaying behaviors, socioeconomic characteristics of households, and health status.
Practical implications
At the end of the study, policy suggestions are provided for improving medical care seeking behaviors and treatment compliance among the poor.
Originality/value
Poverty is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that consists of income insufficiency, lack of education, malnutrition, and poor health. The relationship between poverty and poor health impacts those who live in poverty as well as communities, organizations and entire countries. Reducing health disparities and decreasing delays and difficulties in access to health care among poor households are important goals.