Using data envelopment analysis to measure the technical efficiency of public health centers in Kenya

Joses M. Kirigia, Ali Emrouznejad*, Luis G. Sambo, Nzoya Munguti, Wilson Liambila

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Data Envelopment Analysis has been widely used to analyze the efficiency of health sector in developed countries, since 1978, while in Africa, only a few studies have attempted to apply DEA in the health organizations. In this paper we measure technical efficiency of public health centers in Kenya. Our finding suggests that 44% of public health centers are inefficient. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: to determine the degree of technical efficiency of individual primary health care facilities in Kenya; to recommend the performance targets for inefficient facilities; to estimate the magnitudes of excess inputs; and to recommend what should be done with those excess inputs. The authors believe that this kind of studies should be undertaken in the other countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region with a view to empowering Ministries of Health to play their stewardship role more effectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-166
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Medical Systems
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2004

Keywords

  • Data envelopment analysis
  • Health sector efficiency
  • Hospital efficiency
  • World Health Organization

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