How to improve the construction efficiency of key medical disciplines: a three-stage DEA

The construction of key medical disciplines plays a crucial role in enhancing the capacity of medical services, cultivating high-level medical professionals, and advancing the development of medical technology. However, there is a relative insufficiency in assessing the efficiency of constructing these key disciplines. Most existing evaluations focus primarily on health services. To address this gap, the present study evaluates the construction efficiency of key medical disciplines within Tianjin and identifies critical factors that significantly influence this efficiency, thereby providing strategies for optimization. This research employs a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to measure the construction efficiency of key medical disciplines. The super-efficient non-expected SBM model is utilized to analyze both the first and third stages of this three-stage DEA framework. In the second stage, adjustments are made to input variables based on results from Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Furthermore, Tobit regression analysis is conducted to examine factors influencing efficiency. The findings reveal that the average technical efficiency of key medical disciplines stands at 0.18, with only 8.57% classified as DEA efficient. The Tobit regression analysis indicates a significant positive impact from the proportion of doctoral personnel, material costs and travel costs on construction efficiency. It is essential to allocate resources rationally for developing key medical disciplines while implementing various measures aimed at optimizing both educational structures within discipline teams and financial resource allocation in order to enhance overall construction efficiency.