Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism

Abstract Background This study aims to examine the localisation of selected parameters in the deployment and use of medical equipment in the Slovak Republic and to verify potential regional disparities. The study evaluates the benefits of an analytical platform for regulatory mechanisms in the healt...

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Main Authors: Beáta Gavurová, Viliam Kováč, Ján Fedačko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-11-01
Series:Health Economics Review
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13561-017-0176-0
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author Beáta Gavurová
Viliam Kováč
Ján Fedačko
author_facet Beáta Gavurová
Viliam Kováč
Ján Fedačko
author_sort Beáta Gavurová
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aims to examine the localisation of selected parameters in the deployment and use of medical equipment in the Slovak Republic and to verify potential regional disparities. The study evaluates the benefits of an analytical platform for regulatory mechanisms in the healthcare system. Methods The correspondence analysis is applied to the entire data set containing information regarding medical equipment distribution and mortality. Results The results highlight regional differences in the use of medical equipment throughout the analysed period from 2008 to 2014. The total amount of medical equipment increased slightly to 9192 devices during the time span. In 2014, there was a significant decrease of 16.44%. Disparities are found in the frequencies and structure of medical equipment. In some regions, medical equipment is not present or is present in low numbers. Conclusions The results regarding regional disparities demonstrate the regional development of the amount of medical equipment. The deployment of medical equipment is not proportional, and not all of the analysed devices are available in each region. The tests also indicate the appropriateness of the amount of medical equipment and create a platform for further investigation. The results of the analysis suggest the unsuitable distribution of medical equipment throughout the Slovak regions, where there are significant regional disparities. These findings can serve as a monitoring platform to evaluate the accessibility and efficiency of medical equipment usage. Trial registration No human participants were involved in the research.
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spelling doaj.art-7043b12e9ef1424790e52521a5442f922022-12-21T16:54:10ZengBMCHealth Economics Review2191-19912017-11-017111310.1186/s13561-017-0176-0Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanismBeáta Gavurová0Viliam Kováč1Ján Fedačko2Department of Banking and Investment, Faculty of Economics, Technical University of KošiceDepartment of Finance, Faculty of Economics, Technical University of Košice1st Department of Internal Medicine, Louis Pasteur University Hospital in KošiceAbstract Background This study aims to examine the localisation of selected parameters in the deployment and use of medical equipment in the Slovak Republic and to verify potential regional disparities. The study evaluates the benefits of an analytical platform for regulatory mechanisms in the healthcare system. Methods The correspondence analysis is applied to the entire data set containing information regarding medical equipment distribution and mortality. Results The results highlight regional differences in the use of medical equipment throughout the analysed period from 2008 to 2014. The total amount of medical equipment increased slightly to 9192 devices during the time span. In 2014, there was a significant decrease of 16.44%. Disparities are found in the frequencies and structure of medical equipment. In some regions, medical equipment is not present or is present in low numbers. Conclusions The results regarding regional disparities demonstrate the regional development of the amount of medical equipment. The deployment of medical equipment is not proportional, and not all of the analysed devices are available in each region. The tests also indicate the appropriateness of the amount of medical equipment and create a platform for further investigation. The results of the analysis suggest the unsuitable distribution of medical equipment throughout the Slovak regions, where there are significant regional disparities. These findings can serve as a monitoring platform to evaluate the accessibility and efficiency of medical equipment usage. Trial registration No human participants were involved in the research.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13561-017-0176-0Medical equipmentHealthcareHealth facilityRegionRegional disparity
spellingShingle Beáta Gavurová
Viliam Kováč
Ján Fedačko
Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
Health Economics Review
Medical equipment
Healthcare
Health facility
Region
Regional disparity
title Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
title_full Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
title_fullStr Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
title_full_unstemmed Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
title_short Regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the Slovak Republic – a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
title_sort regional disparities in medical equipment distribution in the slovak republic a platform for a health policy regulatory mechanism
topic Medical equipment
Healthcare
Health facility
Region
Regional disparity
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13561-017-0176-0
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AT viliamkovac regionaldisparitiesinmedicalequipmentdistributionintheslovakrepublicaplatformforahealthpolicyregulatorymechanism
AT janfedacko regionaldisparitiesinmedicalequipmentdistributionintheslovakrepublicaplatformforahealthpolicyregulatorymechanism