Correlation between Distribution of Hospital Inpatient Beds and Households expenditure in Iran

Inequality in distribution of medical resources, including hospital beds, is important in providing optimal health care. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the distribution of hospital beds in Iran and household expenditure as one of the indicators of the economic and social status.
This descriptive-analytic study was conducted via document method and using household expenditure data in 2014 provided by the Statistical Center of Iran as well as the data of the Ministry of Health on the distribution of hospital beds in all provinces of the country. Spearman correlation test was used to find the correlation between hospital beds distribution and households’ expenditure and Gini coefficient was used to evaluate inequality in Distribution of Hospital Inpatient beds. Data analysis was conducted through SPSS22 software.
There was a direct relationship between food and non-food expenditures of urban households and distribution of special care beds, surgery beds and general beds in hospitals ofIran provinces. But, this relationship was not significant for rural households. Gini coefficient index was equal to 0.281 which indicates great equality.
If inpatient beds be considered as the criterion for the distribution of health services in the provinces, little inequality is adhered. On the other hand, the inequality in the distribution of health expenditures among rural households in Iran provinces is very high. The government should increase health facilities and financial supports in deprived areas in order to decrease these inequalities.