Health inequalities in Thailand: geographic distribution of medical supplies in the provinces.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the regional characteristics and geographic distribution of the medical staffs (physicians and nurses) and the patient beds in relation to the population and average death rates in each of the provinces in Thailand, by using the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficients. Those data were obtained from surveys conducted by the Ministry of Public Health and the Office of the National Education Commission. It was demonstrated that there are certain clear uneven distributions in medical personnel, especially physicians (Gini index = 0.433), by province. For physicians, nurses, and patient beds, approximately 39.6%, 25.8% and 20.6% are concentrated in the Bangkok Metropolis. Specific ideas to solve those problems are discussed in order to overcome this health care crisis by the year 2025.
Nishiura
Hiroshi
H
DTM&H Epidemiology Research Committee, Bangkok School of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Nishiurah@aol.com
Barua
Sujan
S
Lawpoolsri
Saranath
S
Kittitrakul
Chatporn
C
Leman
Martinus Martin
MM
Maha
Masri Sembiring
MS
Muangnoicharoen
Sant
S
D001513:Beds / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005843:Geography; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D019037:Urban Health Services