Measuring the Efficiency of Public Health Services by DEA

Abstract

Efficiency is one of the most important principles in public health services due to the strive for rationality and, at the same time, the need to strengthen quality. The aim of this research is to explore and analyse the suitability of DEA to measure the efficiency of a range of different services offered by institutes of public health in Croatia. DEA is a technique that is used to measure relative efficiency. It is traditionally used for non profit organizations. This technique has so far mostly been used in assessing solely the efficiency of hospitals and not other public health preventive services. For that reason, the objective of this study is to identify units within one department of public health services that are relatively inefficient and to set targets for them based on the activities of units classified as efficient. We used data for 12 units (DMUs) for the period of two years, defining common inputs and outputs. The results obtained show projections of efficient and inefficient DMUs, projection of inefficient units at efficient frontier allows comparison between most similar units by efficiency and provides information on controllable inputs and outputs. This research has proven that relative efficiency obtained with DEA can be a useful tool in assessing efficiency of public health services on level of one institution and could support management decision-making process.

Effects of Educational Efficiency on National Competitiveness Based on Cross-National Data

“…Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist index (MI) are appropriate evaluation indicators that represent educational efficiency. Based on literature review, DEA is normally used to assess government, public health, and science and technology investment efficiencies [10][11][12].…”

Public Sector Reform from the Post-New Public Management Perspective: Review and Bibliometric Analysis

“…We recognize that modernization of PA is a challenging process due to the several interrelated aspects (Kovač and Jukić, 2016;Ropret et al, 2018). Not surprisingly, this leads to very diverse (partly also conflicting) definitions and methodologies used by scholars (Vitezić et al, 2016). Governance measures have been as diverse as the processes (governance as a tool); structures (governance as a form); inputs (governance as both structure and process, bureaucratic and administrative capacity); and as outputs/outcomes (governance as policies, consequences and results; for more, see Bevir et al, 2011;Pollitt and Bouckaert, 2011;Hammerschmid et al, 2016 etc.).…”

“…Governance measures have been as diverse as the processes (governance as a tool); structures (governance as a form); inputs (governance as both structure and process, bureaucratic and administrative capacity); and as outputs/outcomes (governance as policies, consequences and results; for more, see Bevir et al, 2011;Pollitt and Bouckaert, 2011;Hammerschmid et al, 2016 etc.). As a consequence of these diverse approaches, the reality of measuring governance remains difficult and is still contested (Vitezić et al, 2016). In addition, the monitoring of efficiency and effectiveness in CEE remains complex also because the objectives and interests of stakeholders are multifaceted.…”

Measuring the Efficiency of Polish Municipalities – Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

“…The first stream in scientific research studies evaluating the efficiency of single services delivered by municipalities, i.e. library services (Worthington 1999), water management (Pereira and Marques 2017); (Alsharif et al 2008), transport services (Hajduk 2018), solid waste management (Huang et al 2008) or public health services (Vitezić 2016;Kirigia 2008).…”