Measuring healthcare efficiency in Kazakhstan: an application of data envelopment analysis

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the Republic of Kazakhstan's healthcare sector over the period 2014-2021 using the non-parametric method of data envelope analysis. The analysis was carried out based on quantitative indicators of the medical statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study's results prove that efficiency tends to change over the medium term. Simultaneously, implementing digital technologies based on the computerisation and digitalisation of the healthcare sector in the short term is revealed to reduce overall efficiency, but that efficiency increases in the long term. The events of the COVID-19 pandemic did not reduce the overall efficiency of the healthcare sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Keywords

• Healthcare
• Efficiency
• Data Envelopment Analysis
• Medical reform