Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
5th Biannual Conference of European Health Economics Association (EUHEA 2024) 'Opening up perspectives on health economics', Vienna, Austria, Vienna, Avusturya, 30 Haziran - 03 Temmuz 2024, ss.1
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explain changes in bed capacities of privately- and publicly-owned hospitals in local districts of Türkiye over the late stages of health reforms under the Health Transformation Program (2003-2013).
METHODS: This article empirically analyzes the determinants of capacity expansion in the local hospital markets in Türkiye by employing data on demand conditions and local market characteristics.
RESULTS: During the study period from 2010 to 2014, the estimation results robustly revealed that the changes in hospital bed capacity of local districts were not due to the changes in the population variables. Private hospital bed capacity growth was found to be weaker in local districts with a formerly higher private hospital capacity per capita; the same is true for public hospital bed capacity growth. There appeared no statistically significant effect of local districts' existing public hospital bed capacities on the change in their private hospital bed capacity, and vice versa. New private hospital entry was found to be a significant source of change in the private bed capacity of local hospital markets. The estimation results do not show evidence for the presence of local market competitive pressure on the growth in hospital bed capacity of local districts in Türkiye.
DISCUSSION: Thus, based on the findings of this study, it cannot be concluded that the local competition among hospitals led to a rivalry to expand their bed capacities. It appears more appropriate to interpret the capacity expansion of private hospitals as a consequence of the increased inclusion of the private sector in healthcare provision within the publicly-funded universal health insurance system and favorable market environment thanks to the health reforms.