Enjoyment Level and Distribution of Health Facilities in Counties of Isfahan Province

The study of the health status in different regions of Iran is a basic step toward the optimal allocation of health resources to different regions. This study tried to determine the enjoyment level and equality in the distribution of health facilities in the counties of Isfahan province during the 5th development plan of Iran.

First, the enjoyment level of Isfahan counties was determined using the TOPSIS method. Then, the distribution of health facilities was evaluated for 23 counties during 2011 - 2015. The data used in this study were obtained from the statistical yearbook of Isfahan.

The counties of Isfahan province were not homogenous in terms of enjoyment level. The overall trend of the Gini coefficient was upward during the study period. The inequality in the distribution of health facilities increased by 38% from the beginning year of the plan to the last year of the study period so that the Gini coefficient was 0.255 in the first year of the plan and 0.353 in 2015.

The increased inequality in the distribution of health facilities indicated that the welfare of less-favored counties decreased compared to more developed counties during the fifth development plan. Hence, due to the intensification of inequality, especially in the final year of the plan, compensation for these inequalities can be put on the agenda of provincial health planners.