The Demands for Outpatient Care in Private Hospitals
Abstract: Improvement of per
capita income will boost the demand for outpatient care and lead enhanced
expectation of service quality of hospital. People perceived that private
hospital has better services than public hospital. Based on these, we assumed
that private hospital users have particular characteristics. This study aimed
to investigate factors associated with utilization of private hospitals for
outpatient care and who get the benefits, the rich or the poor. This study used
data of 42,540 respondents from IFLS-4 collected in 2007. Analyses showed the
higher the income the higher the demand. Insured’s groups have higher demand
than uninsured. Demand analyses revealed that increased price of private
hospital caused higher demand. This evidence indicated that outpatient care of
private hospital was perceived as luxuries goods. However increased price of
public hospital did not influence the demand of private hospital. It is
indicate that private hospital has different type with patients of public
hospital. It means that the two types of hospital comprise different segment of
patients. The rich benefited more outpatient care in private hospital than the
poor. It implies that the government should enforced Ministry of Health’s
regulation on hospital social function.
Penulis: Pujiyanto
Kode Jurnal: jpkesmasdd120359
