Amiri M¹ * (PhD), Bagheri H² (BSc), Raei M³ (MSc)

  ¹ Department of Health Services Management, School of Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran

  ² Budgeting Unit, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran

  ³ Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

  Received: 8 Mar 2012, Accepted: 3 Sep 2012

  Abstract

  Introduction: Time and cost analysis of health care programs help managers to plan more precise strategies through appropriate allocation of resources resulting in high productivity. The present study aimed to analyze the cost and time of health care programs at the first level health care services in Shahroud University for Medical Sciences in 2009.

  Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all urban and rural health care centers of the university (n=26) were selected. In the level one health care centers, 43 programs were identified. Data were analyzed using cost analysis program in the Excel. The results were displayed in frequency distribution tables and diagrams.

  Results: The number of programs in subcategories were as follow: disease prevention: 17 (39.55%) programs family health: six (13.95%) programs environmental health: six (13.95%) programs mouth and teeth health: two (4.56%) programs outpatient treatment: four (9.30%) programs professional health: four (9.30%) programs and school health: four 4 (9.30%) programs. Among all the programs, the most spent time (45.51%) was for the programs of the outpatient treatment category. With 16.82% of the total budget allocated to outpatient treatment programs, this category ranked the first among the 43 categories. The most services were also provided in the outpatient treatment programs (n= 997730), followed by family health category (n= 224350).

  Conclusion: Collaboration of private sector is recommended to reduce the cost in high-cost programs such as outpatient treatment and laboratory programs to improve efficiency of the programs.

  Key words: cost analysis, cost-efficiency, health services, health programs, efficiency

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Amiri M, Bagheri H, Raei M. Cost and Time Analysis of Health Care Programs at First Level of Health Care Services in a Medical Sciences University. Hakim Research Journal 2012 15(3): 251- 257.

  * Corresponding Author: School of Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
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