IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/soinre/v159y2022i3d10.1007_s11205-021-02775-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Measuring Regional Performance in the Italian NHS: Are Disparities Decreasing?

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Bruzzi

    (University of Genoa)

  • Enrico Ivaldi

    (University of Genoa
    C.I.E.L.I.
    CIE University of Buenos Aires)

  • Marta Santagata

    (University of Genoa)

Abstract

Given the regional disparities that historically characterize the Italian context, in this paper we propose a framework to evaluate the regional health care systems’ performance in order to contribute to the debate on the relationship between decentralisation of health care and equity. To investigate the regional health systems performance, we refer to the OECD Health Care Quality Indicators project to construct of a set of five composite indexes. The composite indexes are built on the basis of the non-compensatory Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto Index, that allows comparability of the data across units and over time. We propose three indexes of health system performance, namely Quality Index, Accessibility Index and Cost-Expenditure Index, along with a Health Status Index and a Lifestyles Index. Our framework highlights that regional disparities still persist. Consistently with the evidence at the institutional level, there are regions, particularly in Southern Italy, which record lower levels of performance with high levels of expenditure. Continuous research is needed to provide policy makers with appropriate data and tools to build a cohesive health care system for the benefit of the whole population. Even if future research is needed to integrate our framework with new indicators for the calculation of the indexes and with the identification of new indexes, the study shows that a scientific reflection on decentralisation of health systems is necessary in order to reduce inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Bruzzi & Enrico Ivaldi & Marta Santagata, 2022. "Measuring Regional Performance in the Italian NHS: Are Disparities Decreasing?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 1057-1084, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:159:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-021-02775-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-021-02775-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11205-021-02775-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11205-021-02775-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vrijens, France & Renard, Françoise & Jonckheer, Pascale & Van den Heede, Koen & Desomer, Anja & Van de Voorde, Carine & Walckiers, Denise & Dubois, Cécile & Camberlin, Cécile & Vlayen, Joan & Van Oye, 2013. "The Belgian Health System Performance Report 2012: Snapshot of results and recommendations to policy makers," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 133-140.
    2. Toth, Federico, 2014. "How health care regionalisation in Italy is widening the North–South gap," Health Economics, Policy and Law, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(3), pages 231-249, July.
    3. Antonio Nuzzo & Flavia Carle & Eugenio Anessi Pessina, 2018. "Processo di decentramento del SSN ed evoluzione dell?equit? interregionale nell?assistenza sanitaria nel periodo 2001-2012," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(108), pages 9-34.
    4. Cinzia Di Novi & Massimiliano Piacenza & Silvana Robone & Gilberto Turati, 2015. "How does fiscal decentralization affect within-regional disparities in well-being? Evidence from health inequalities in Italy," Working Papers 2015:21, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    5. Enrico Casadio Tarabusi & Giulio Guarini, 2013. "An Unbalance Adjustment Method for Development Indicators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(1), pages 19-45, May.
    6. Edward Kelley & Jeremy Hurst, 2006. "Health Care Quality Indicators Project: Conceptual Framework Paper," OECD Health Working Papers 23, OECD Publishing.
    7. Di Novi, Cinzia & Piacenza, Massimiliano & Robone, Silvana & Turati, Gilberto, 2019. "Does fiscal decentralization affect regional disparities in health? Quasi-experimental evidence from Italy," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    8. Pasquale De Muro & Matteo Mazziotta & Adriano Pareto, 2011. "Composite Indices of Development and Poverty: An Application to MDGs," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 104(1), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Matteo Mazziotta & Adriano Pareto, 2019. "Use and Misuse of PCA for Measuring Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 451-476, April.
    10. Matteo Mazziotta, Adriano Pareto, 2013. "Methods For Constructing Composite Indices: One For All Or All For One?," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 67(2), pages 67-80, April-Jun.
    11. Stefano Landi & Enrico Ivaldi & Angela Testi, 2018. "Measuring Change Over Time in Socio-economic Deprivation and Health in an Urban Context: The Case Study of Genoa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 745-785, September.
    12. Devdatta Ray & Mikael Linden, 2020. "Health expenditure, longevity, and child mortality: dynamic panel data approach with global data," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 99-119, March.
    13. Matteo Mazziotta & Adriano Pareto, 2018. "Measuring Well-Being Over Time: The Adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto Index Versus Other Non-compensatory Indices," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 967-976, April.
    14. Jeremy Hurst & Melissa Jee-Hughes, 2001. "Performance Measurement and Performance Management in OECD Health Systems," OECD Labour Market and Social Policy Occasional Papers 47, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Lallo & Marta Pasqualini & Cecilia Tomassini, 2022. "Trends in the Use of Home LTC Services in Large, Medium and Small Municipalities in Italy: Lessons for the Post-COVID-19 Reappraisal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Pietro Renzi & Alberto Franci, 2023. "Inequalities in Health: Definitions, Concepts and Measurements—An Application in the Regional Health Authority in Italy," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 599-627, September.
    3. Rafaela Oliveira & Gonçalo Santinha & Teresa Sá Marques, 2023. "The Impacts of Health Decentralization on Equity, Efficiency, and Effectiveness: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-32, December.
    4. Giovanni Guarducci & Gabriele Messina & Simona Carbone & Andrea Urbani & Nicola Nante, 2022. "Inter-Regional Patients’ Migration for Hospital Orthopedic Intensive Rehabilitation: The Italian Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Enrico Ivaldi & Paolo Parra Saiani & Juan José Primosich & Carolina Bruzzi, 2020. "Health and Deprivation: A New Approach Applied to 32 Argentinian Urban Areas," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(1), pages 155-179, August.
    2. Venera Tomaselli & Mario Fordellone & Maurizio Vichi, 2021. "Building Well-Being Composite Indicator for Micro-Territorial Areas Through PLS-SEM and K-Means Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 407-429, January.
    3. Rajko Tomaš, 2022. "Measurement of the Concentration of Potential Quality of Life in Local Communities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 79-109, August.
    4. Matteo Mazziotta & Adriano Pareto, 2018. "Measuring Well-Being Over Time: The Adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto Index Versus Other Non-compensatory Indices," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 967-976, April.
    5. Jaya Krishnakumar & Mario Biggeri & Mauro Vincenzo, 2022. "Eat AND Study but Wii OR Ski! Differentiating Between ‘Basic’ and ‘Non-basic’ Dimensions in a Multidimensional Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(3), pages 1115-1138, October.
    6. Maria Lucia Specchia & Andrea Di Pilla & Martina Sapienza & Maria Teresa Riccardi & Americo Cicchetti & Gianfranco Damiani & Instant Report Group, 2021. "Dealing with COVID-19 Epidemic in Italy: Responses from Regional Organizational Models during the First Phase of the Epidemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-14, May.
    7. Schwartz, Robert & Deber, Raisa, 2016. "The performance measurement–management divide in public health," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(3), pages 273-280.
    8. Giorgio Calcagnini & Francesco Perugini, 2019. "A Well-Being Indicator for the Italian Provinces," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 149-177, February.
    9. Antonella Bernardini & Matteo Mazziotta & Valeria Quondamstefano, 2018. "Composite indicators and spatial correlations of Italian municipalities' socio-economic measures," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 72(3), pages 65-76, July-Sept.
    10. Salvatore Greco & Alessio Ishizaka & Menelaos Tasiou & Gianpiero Torrisi, 2019. "On the Methodological Framework of Composite Indices: A Review of the Issues of Weighting, Aggregation, and Robustness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 141(1), pages 61-94, January.
    11. Marion Devaux, 2015. "Income-related inequalities and inequities in health care services utilisation in 18 selected OECD countries," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 16(1), pages 21-33, January.
    12. Rubén Raedo, 2021. "Urban Sustainability Deficits: The Urban Non-Sustainability Index (UNSI) as a Tool for Urban Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    13. Alessandra Cepparulo & Luisa Giuriato, 2022. "The residential healthcare for the elderly in Italy: some considerations for post-COVID-19 policies," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(4), pages 671-685, June.
    14. Paola Annoni & Manuela Scioni, 2022. "The Unbalance Penalisation Method for Metrics of Social Progress," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1093-1115, August.
    15. Carlo Drago, 2021. "The Analysis and the Measurement of Poverty: An Interval-Based Composite Indicator Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Matheus Pereira Libório & Lívia Maria Leite Silva & Petr Iakovlevitch Ekel & Letícia Ribeiro Figueiredo & Patrícia Bernardes, 2022. "Consensus-Based Sub-Indicator Weighting Approach: Constructing Composite Indicators Compatible with Expert Opinion," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 1073-1099, December.
    17. Ilinca-Valentina Stoica & Antoni F. Tulla & Daniela Zamfir & Alexandru-Ionuț Petrișor, 2020. "Exploring the Urban Strength of Small Towns in Romania," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 843-875, December.
    18. Matheus Pereira Libório & Oseias da Silva Martinuci & Alexei Manso Correa Machado & Renata de Mello Lyrio & Patrícia Bernardes, 2022. "Time–Space Analysis of Multidimensional Phenomena: A Composite Indicator of Social Exclusion Through k-Means," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 569-591, January.
    19. Vincenzo Carrieri & Maria De Paola & Francesca Gioia, 2021. "The health-economy trade-off during the Covid-19 pandemic: Communication matters," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-25, September.
    20. Eugenia Nissi & Annalina Sarra, 2018. "A Measure of Well-Being Across the Italian Urban Areas: An Integrated DEA-Entropy Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 1183-1209, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:159:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-021-02775-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.