Equity in Distribution of Hospital Beds in Mazandaran Province

Equity in the health sector means the availability of health services and people's fair access to them, using health services based on need, paying for health services based on financial ability and having an acceptable level of health. Fair distribution of hospital beds increases people's access to health services and improves their health. This research aimed to measure equity in the geographical distribution of hospital beds in Mazandaran province, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. the data related to the population of the cities, the number of hospitals and hospital beds in Mazandaran province were obtained from the ministry of health, and the and the Iranian national statistics center. The equity in the distribution of hospital beds in Mazandaran province was calculated using the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve.

 Mazandaran Province population was 3,283,582 and there were 44 hospitals with 5,149 beds in 2016. There was 1.3 hospital per 100,000 people and 1.6 hospital beds per 1000 people in the Mazandaran Province. About 61% of hospitals in Mazandaran province are over 20 years old and 86% of hospitals have less than 200 beds. Sari, Qaemshahr and Fereidoonkar cities have had the highest hospital beds per population. About 18% of hospitals and 24% of hospital beds in Mazandaran province were in Sari city. The Gini coefficient for hospital bed distribution among Mazandaran counties was 0.28.

The distribution of hospital beds in Mazandaran Province was relatively fair. Equitable allocation of hospital beds particularly in less developed cities is necessary for achieving population health fairness. The distribution of hospital beds in Mazandaran province using the Gini index is almost fair. Fair allocation of health resources, especially in underprivileged cities of the province is necessary.