Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction
The organization of health care is one of the most complex present day challenges. Like other countries that run socialized health care systems, Icelanders face the question of the role of private enterprise in health care. The objective of this study was two-fold: to compare the cost of 17 private...
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University of Iceland
2018-06-01
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Series: | Stjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla |
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Online Access: | http://www.irpa.is/article/view/2770 |
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doaj-ffaedcd2af0a4b38a21686947ac84c572020-11-24T21:28:32ZengUniversity of IcelandStjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla1670-68031670-679X2018-06-01142698410.13177/irpa.a.2018.14.2.42290Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfactionHéðinn SigurðssonSunna GestsdóttirSigríður HalldórsdóttirKristjan G. GuðmundssonThe organization of health care is one of the most complex present day challenges. Like other countries that run socialized health care systems, Icelanders face the question of the role of private enterprise in health care. The objective of this study was two-fold: to compare the cost of 17 private and state-run health care centers in the metropolitan area, and to compare consumer satisfaction related to these. At the beginning of Icelandic settlement, there were statutory laws decreeing that community services should be provided for those in need. By the Health Care Act in 1973, the Icelandic health care system fell under the Nordic welfare society with equal access and a tight safety net. The results show that the private health care centers had a low cost per work unit, but not the lowest. Four to seven state run health care centers had less expenditure per patient than the private centers. The cost of each doctor’s position was highest in one of the private clinics. Patient satisfaction surveys showed that there is no difference in the quality of services between these two different operating modes. A conclusion can be drawn from this study that it is not clear whether private health care improves the use of public funds or increases the quality of services.http://www.irpa.is/article/view/2770Rannsóknir í heilbrigðisþjónustuheilsugæslaríkisrekstureinkareksturstarfsfólk í heilsugæslu. |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Héðinn Sigurðsson Sunna Gestsdóttir Sigríður Halldórsdóttir Kristjan G. Guðmundsson |
spellingShingle |
Héðinn Sigurðsson Sunna Gestsdóttir Sigríður Halldórsdóttir Kristjan G. Guðmundsson Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction Stjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla Rannsóknir í heilbrigðisþjónustu heilsugæsla ríkisrekstur einkarekstur starfsfólk í heilsugæslu. |
author_facet |
Héðinn Sigurðsson Sunna Gestsdóttir Sigríður Halldórsdóttir Kristjan G. Guðmundsson |
author_sort |
Héðinn Sigurðsson |
title |
Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
title_short |
Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
title_full |
Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
title_fullStr |
Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
title_full_unstemmed |
Public or private primary health care: A comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
title_sort |
public or private primary health care: a comparison of efficiency and patient satisfaction |
publisher |
University of Iceland |
series |
Stjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla |
issn |
1670-6803 1670-679X |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
The organization of health care is one of the most complex present day challenges. Like other countries that run socialized health care systems, Icelanders face the question of the role of private enterprise in health care. The objective of this study was two-fold: to compare the cost of 17 private and state-run health care centers in the metropolitan area, and to compare consumer satisfaction related to these. At the beginning of Icelandic settlement, there were statutory laws decreeing that community services should be provided for those in need. By the Health Care Act in 1973, the Icelandic health care system fell under the Nordic welfare society with equal access and a tight safety net. The results show that the private health care centers had a low cost per work unit, but not the lowest. Four to seven state run health care centers had less expenditure per patient than the private centers. The cost of each doctor’s position was highest in one of the private clinics. Patient satisfaction surveys showed that there is no difference in the quality of services between these two different operating modes. A conclusion can be drawn from this study that it is not clear whether private health care improves the use of public funds or increases the quality of services. |
topic |
Rannsóknir í heilbrigðisþjónustu heilsugæsla ríkisrekstur einkarekstur starfsfólk í heilsugæslu. |
url |
http://www.irpa.is/article/view/2770 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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1725970015791874048 |