The Study of Justice in The Distribution of General and Specialized Physicians in Khuzestan Province: 2018

Equitable distribution of health sector resources has always been one of the major challenges of this sector. Due to health care needs, equitable distribution of physicians is a determining factor in health system policies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of justice among the general practitioners and specialists in Khuzestan province.

This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Population data were collected through the Statistical Center of Iran and the number of physicians, through the Departments of Health, Human Resources Development and Human Resources, the Medical System Organization, and the Provincial Management and Planning Organization. Then using equity indices (population per 1000 population), Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve, equity in physician distribution was investigated. Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve were extracted using Excel software.

Hendijan(0.5) and Hafttekel(0.49) had the highest proportion of general practitioner to population and Khormshahr(0.12) and Mahshahr(0.11) respectively. The highest ratio of specialist physician to population was in Karun city(0.75) and the lowest in Bavi(0.04), Hamidieh(0.05) and Lali (0.07). Gini coefficient of distribution of general practitioner and specialist in the province were 0.19 and 0.33, respectively. The gap between the distribution curves of general practitioners and specialists and the equality line in the Lorenz curve confirm these coefficients.

proportion of general practitioners and specialists to population is low throughout the province, the distribution of general practitioners and specialists was relatively Equitable.Provincial health policy makers and managers should pay particular attention to increasing the proportion of general Physicians and specialist.