Comparative efficiency of national health systems: cross national econometric analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the evidence base for health policy by devising a method to measure and monitor the performance of health systems.


METHODS
Estimation of the relation between levels of population health and the inputs used to produce health.


METHODS
191 countries.


METHODS
Health system efficiency (performance).


RESULTS
Estimated efficiency varied from nearly fully efficient to nearly fully inefficient. Countries with a history of civil conflict or high prevalence of HIV and AIDS were less efficient. Performance increased with health expenditure per capita.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing the resources for health systems is critical to improving health in poor countries, but important gains can be made in most countries by using existing resources more efficiently.
Evans
D B
DB
Global Programme on Evidence for Health Policy, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. evansd@who.int
Tandon
A
A
Murray
C J
CJ
Lauer
J A
JA
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D004522:Educational Status; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D017059:Models, Econometric