Evaluation of Efficiency and Productivity of Hospitals in IranEmphasizing the Indicators of Welfare and Social Development

Considering the importance of the hospital industry, this study evaluated the efficiency and productivity of hospitals in 12 provinces nationwide using the universal data analysis model based on the method of manufacturing factor minimization (VRS) and Malmquist index during the period of 2006-2016. The results of this study indicated that the efficiency of all hospitals during the studied period has been upward, as well as the Northern provinces are more effective than southern provinces. Also, in the years under study, the least technical efficiency was related to Sistan and BaluchestanHospital unit. On the other hand, the results of the Malmquist index show that in the period under review, the total productivity change index for the 12 provinces is 1.034, and for the whole of the studied provinces, changes in scale efficiency, managerial efficiency changes, and productivity efficiency changes technically dropped. But further increases in technological efficiency changes have led to an increase in the total productivity changes of the production factors. According to the results of the study, it is suggested that, in order to increase the efficiency and productivity in hospitals, measures such as improving the quality of services, increasing the attractiveness of financial resources, continuous evaluation of performance, the assignment of services to the non-governmental sector, the optimal use of human force, increasing managerial authority in hospitals, and optimal allocation of beds on the agenda.