Hospital efficiency and influencing factors in Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Phu Yen, An Giang, Ho Chi Minh city, from 2017 to 2020

Abstract

This study aims to describe hospital efficiency and influencing factors in Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Phu Yen, An Giang, Ho Chi Minh city, from 2017 to 2020. A cross - sectional study using data envelopment analysis (DEA) with data of 425 hospitals for 4 years 2017 - 2020 was conducted to measure hospital efficiency. Results showed the mean efficiency scores of public general hospitals and health centers at provincial and district levels was relatively high at 0.803, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.786 - 0.823 during 2017 - 2020. The analysis of influencing factors showed that units with high financial autonomy tended to be less efficient than those that depended on the state budget. Policy barriers were the main factor that made it difficult for units to increase revenue. The competition of the private sector also affected the health workforce as well as the performance of the public sector. There is a need for more investment in grassroots health, revision of health service pricing and procurement policies to remove difficulties and enhance competitiveness for grassroots health care in specific and for public sector in general.