Measuring the Capacity Utilization of Public District Hospitals in Tunisia: Using Dual Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

Background Public district hospitals (PDHs) in Tunisia are not operating at full plant capacity and underutilize their operating budget.   Methods Individual PDHs capacity utilization (CU) is measured for ۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۱۰ using dual data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach with shadow prices input and output restrictions. The CU is estimated for ۱۰۱ of ۱۰۵ PDH in ۲۰۰۰ and ۹۴ of ۱۰۵ PDH in ۲۰۱۰.   Results In average, unused capacity is estimated at ۱۸% in ۲۰۱۰ vs. ۱۳% in ۲۰۰۰. Of PDHs ۲۶% underutilize their operating budget in ۲۰۱۰ vs. ۲۱% in ۲۰۰۰.   Conclusion Inadequate supply, health quality and the lack of operating budget should be tackled to reduce unmet user’s needs and the bypassing of the PDHs and, thus to increase their CU. Social health insurance should be turned into a direct purchaser of curative and preventive care for the PDHs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) ، Shadow Prices ، Capacity Utilization (CU) ، Public District Hospitals ، (PDHs) ، Tunisia