Measuring Inequality in the Distribution of Manpower and Healthcare Facilities Within Iran’s Health Sector

Introduction: Achieving health within a society is closely linked to access to resources in the health sector. Therefore, ensuring a fair distribution of these resources has always been a priority for health policymakers. This research aimed to measure the inequality in the distribution of human resources and healthcare facilities within Iran’s health sector by using the Gini coefficient. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study employed a cross-sectional approach. It examined various health sector variables, including indicators of manpower such as general practitioners, dentists, specialist doctors, nurses, and paramedics. Additionally, the study assessed healthcare facilities, which included active beds, primary healthcare centers, laboratories, pharmacies, and emergency centers. The data were collected from the statistical yearbooks of the provinces provided by the Iranian Statistics Center for 2021. The Gini coefficient was utilized to measure inequality. Finally, data analysis and graphical representations were performed using R and Excel software. Results: In 2021, the Gini coefficients were 0.14, 0.21, 0.13, 0.15, 0.16, 0.12, 0.22, 0.20, 0.11, and 0.19 for various health sector categories in the country, including general practitioners, dentists, specialist doctors, nurses, paramedics, active beds, primary healthcare centers, laboratories, pharmacies, and emergency centers, respectively. Notably, the Gini coefficients for specialist doctors, nurses, and active beds exceeded 0.30 in most provinces. The regions with the most significant inequality in the distribution of health sector resources were Tehran, Sistan and Baluchestan, Alborz, Kerman, Isfahan, Qom, Semnan, Markazi, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Khorasan Razavi. Conclusion: The results indicated that the distribution of manpower indicators and healthcare facilities among the provinces of Iran was relatively equal. However, the allocation of specialist doctors, nurses, and active beds among the cities within these provinces was found to be inequitable. To address these disparities, it is recommended that authorities work toward a more balanced distribution of healthcare resources among the cities within each province.