Efficiency of health services and its measurement / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Efficiency, one of the key principles of economic assessment in the health service sector, has three implications: technical efficiency, cost efficiency and allocation efficiency. The paper gives an account of the various interpretations of some relevant concepts and different assessment methods. The following methods are frequently used to measure technical efficiency: ratio analysis, CPD, comprehensive index, DEA, etc. Economic efficiency is measured by production function while CEA, CUA and CBA are used to assess cost result. The major indexes for assessing allocation efficiency include the proportion between medical and preventive services, the proportion between basic and non basic medical services and the flow direction of total health expenses.