Interprovincial comparative analysis of the efficiency of healthcare services in Türkiye

Aim: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of healthcare services across 81 provinces in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: In the study, the concept of efficiency was addressed within the framework of achieving the maximum output with the minimum use of resources. The study data were obtained from the annual health statistics of the Ministry of Health for 2022. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method was used in data analysis. In the analysis conducted with the input-oriented and super efficiency model, 5 inputs (number of beds, number of family medicine units, number of physicians, number of nurses, number of emergency ambulances) and 5 output variables (number of primary care applications, number of secondary and tertiary care applications, bed occupancy rate, bed turnover rate, population per emergency ambulance) were used. Input variables were determined to evaluate the resource use of decision units, and output variables were determined to evaluate the performance obtained. The units determined as effective with the super efficiency model were compared among themselves. In order for the ineffective provinces to reach the efficiency limit, a sample model was defined over Kars province. Results: According to the constant return to scale model, 33% of the provinces were found efficient, while 42% were efficient under the variable return to scale model. Iğdır and Mardin were identified as the most efficient provinces in both models, whereas Kars had the lowest efficiency score. Conclusions: This study contributes to the optimization of resource utilization and distribution in healthcare services. It is recommended that similar studies be conducted using broader and more up-to-date datasets.