Evaluation of inequalities in the distribution of health resources by Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve: a case study in Kurdistan province from 2006 to 2013

Inequality in the distribution of health resources is one of the main issues that have been a matter of concern for researchers, planner, and managers in the health sector during the last decades. This study investigated the situation and trend of inequality in the distribution of health resources across the Kurdistan province using Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve from 2006 to 2013. This was a cross-sectional study, which investigated the inequality in the distribution of health resources in Kurdistan province using Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve. Data including total number of general physicians, specialists, dentists, laboratories, pharmacies, hospital beds, and health centers were obtained from the statistical calendar of the province. We used Stata V.12 and DASP software for data analyses. The mean values of Gini coefficient for general physician, specialist, and dentist, laboratory, pharmacy, hospital bed, and health centers were 0.21, 0.368, 0.38, 0.2, 0.218, 0.33 and 0.23, respectively. The highest and lowest inequality rates in 2006 belonged to the number of dentists and health centers, whereas, in 2013, the highest and lowest inequality rates were related to the number of specialists and laboratories, respectively. Our study revealed inequality in the distribution of health resources across the Kurdistan province, but the inequality in their distribution in 2013 compared to 2006, was declined significantly. The results of the study suggested that equality in the distribution of health resources is possible by implementing appropriate distribution policies on the health resources.