TY - JOUR
T1 - Sources of Productivity Growth in Health Services
T2 - A Case Study of Queensland Public Hospitals
AU - Nghiem, Son
AU - Coelli, Tim
AU - Barber, Scott
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2011 Economic Society of Australia (Queensland) Inc.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Improving the performance of health sector is one of the most popular issues in Australia. This paper contributes to this important policy debate by examining the efficiency of health facilities in Queensland using the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI). This method is selected because it is suitable for the multi-input, multi-output, and not-for-profit natures of public health services. In addition, with the availability of panel data we can decompose productivity growth into useful components, including technical efficiency changes, technological changes and scale changes. The results revealed an average of 1.6 per cent of growth in total factor productivity (TFP) among Queensland public hospitals in the study period. The main component contributing to the modest improvement of TFP during the period was catching-up at an average of 1.0 per cent. SFA estimates suggest that the number of nurses is the most influential determinant of output.
AB - Improving the performance of health sector is one of the most popular issues in Australia. This paper contributes to this important policy debate by examining the efficiency of health facilities in Queensland using the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI). This method is selected because it is suitable for the multi-input, multi-output, and not-for-profit natures of public health services. In addition, with the availability of panel data we can decompose productivity growth into useful components, including technical efficiency changes, technological changes and scale changes. The results revealed an average of 1.6 per cent of growth in total factor productivity (TFP) among Queensland public hospitals in the study period. The main component contributing to the modest improvement of TFP during the period was catching-up at an average of 1.0 per cent. SFA estimates suggest that the number of nurses is the most influential determinant of output.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888316657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0313-5926(11)50003-7
DO - 10.1016/S0313-5926(11)50003-7
M3 - Article
SN - 0313-5926
VL - 41
SP - 37
EP - 48
JO - Economic Analysis and Policy
JF - Economic Analysis and Policy
IS - 1
ER -