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The Measurement of Output and Productivity in the Health Care Sector in Canada: An Overview

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  • Andrew Sharpe
  • Celeste Bradley
  • Hans Messinger

Abstract

To achieve efficient allocation of resources in the health care sector, accurate measures of health care output and productivity are essential. According to official estimates of productivity produced by Statistics Canada, labour productivity in the business sector of the health care (excluding hospitals) and social assistance industry declined 0.28 per cent per year between 1994 and 2003. Estimates of productivity produced by the CSLS, based on official Statistics Canada employment and real GDP figures, show that labour productivity in the health care and social assistance industry declined by 0.69 per cent per year between 1987 and 2006. It is widely recognized that official output and productivity figures may seriously underestimate the true contribution of the health care sector to real output, and more importantly to the economic well-being of Canadians. Alternative approaches show that price indices for health care output may be overestimated and, therefore, quality improvements may not be accurately captured by estimates of real health care output. More resources are needed to further investigate the alternative approaches discussed in this report and develop better output measures that adjust for outcomes directly related to health care spending.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Sharpe & Celeste Bradley & Hans Messinger, 2007. "The Measurement of Output and Productivity in the Health Care Sector in Canada: An Overview," CSLS Research Reports 2007-06, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    • Handle: RePEc:sls:resrep:0706
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Norman Gemmell & Patrick Nolan & Grant Scobie, 2017. "Public sector productivity: Quality adjusting sector-level data on New Zealand schools," Working Papers 2017/02, New Zealand Productivity Commission.
    2. Ruolz Ariste & Kam Yu, 2017. "Comparisons of hospital output in Canada: national and international perspectives," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 433-451, December.
    3. Eric Nauenberg, 2014. "Changing healthcare capital-to-labor ratios: evidence and implications for bending the cost curve in Canada and beyond," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 339-353, December.
    4. Eric Nauenberg, 2014. "Changing Healthcare Capital-To-Labor Ratios: Evidence and Implications for Bending the Cost Curve in Canada and Beyond," Working Papers 140002, Canadian Centre for Health Economics, revised Jul 2014.
    5. David A. Dodge & Richard Dion, 2011. "Chronic Healthcare Spending Disease: A Macro Diagnosis and Prognosis," C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, C.D. Howe Institute, issue 327, April.
    6. Don Drummond & Evan Capeluck & Matthew Calver, 2015. "The Key Challenge for Canadian Public Policy: Generating Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth," CSLS Research Reports 2015-11, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    7. Wulong Gu & Jiang Li, 2015. "Productivity in Residential Care Facilities in Canada, 1984-2009," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 29, pages 18-37, Fall.
    8. Andrew Sharpe & Alexander Murray, 2011. "State of the Evidence on Health as a Determinant of Productivity," CSLS Research Reports 2011-04, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.

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