Evaluation of the operational efficiency of maternal and child health care institutions in a province based on the DEA-Malmquist model

Objective  To study the operational efficiency and its changes in maternal and child health(MCH) institutions in a province from 2021 to 2023, so as to provide evidence and policy recommendations for improving their operational efficiency and achieving high-quality development.

Methods Changes in input and output indicators of 17 MCH institutions in a province were described. Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) based on Banker, Charnes, and Cooper(BCC) model and Malmquist index model were used to conduct static and dynamic analysis of the differences in operational efficiency of MCH institutions from 2021 to 2023.

Results Compared with 2021, 3 input indicators in 2023 such as total number of health technical personnel and business expenditure in the entire hospital increased by 1.35% and 22.00%, while the actual total bed-days available (including all open beds) decreased by 6.10%; 3 output indicators in 2023 such as the total number of discharged patients, outpatient and emergency visits, and medical service income increased by 2.02%, 15.88%, and 29.06% respectively. In 2023, the average comprehensive technical efficiency value of the 17 MCH care institutions in the province was 0.850, with 6 out of the 17 institutions operating with DEA efficiency. The average total factor productivity from 2021 to 2023 was 1.026, indicating a high overall efficiency level and a general positive trend. The range of comprehensive technical efficiency among 17 MCH care institutions was 0.407, and the range of total factor productivity was 0.352, which were significant different in institutional development in 2023.

Conclusion  Development of MCH institutions in the province needs to be improved. Each institution should strengthen the building of professional talent teams, actively motivate medical staff, innovate institutional management models, optimize allocation of medical resources and service processes, enhance the level of informatization technology, so as to promote efficient operation and high-quality development of MCH institutions.