COVID Health Structure Index: The Vulnerability of Brazilian Microregions

Diogo Ferraz (), Enzo Barberio Mariano, Patricia Regina Manzine, Herick Fernando Moralles, Paulo César Morceiro, Bruno Guimarães Torres, Mariana Rodrigues Almeida, João Carlos Soares de Mello and Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto
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Diogo Ferraz: University of Hohenheim
Enzo Barberio Mariano: São Paulo State University (UNESP), Núcleo Residencial Presidente Geisel
Patricia Regina Manzine: Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)
Herick Fernando Moralles: Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)
Paulo César Morceiro: DST/NRF South African Chair in Industrial Development, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg
Bruno Guimarães Torres: Fluminense Federal University (UFF)
Mariana Rodrigues Almeida: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
João Carlos Soares de Mello: Fluminense Federal University (UFF)
Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto: University of São Paulo (EESC/USP)

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2021, vol. 158, issue 1, No 9, 197-215

Abstract: Abstract Many developing countries have highly unequal health systems across their regions. The pandemic of COVID-19 brought an additional challenge, as hospital structures equipped with doctors, intensive care units and respirators are not available to a sufficient extent in all regions. Using Data Envelopment Analysis, we create a COVID Index to verify whether the hospital structures in 543 Brazilian microregions are adequate to deal with COVID-19 and to verify whether public policies were implemented in the right direction. The results indicate that hospital structures in the poorest microregions were the most vulnerable, although the peak of COVID-19 occurred in the richest microregions (Sao Paulo). The Southeast states could relocate hospital resources or even patients between their regions. The relocation was not possible in many states in the Northeast, as the health system poorly assisted the interior of these states. These findings reveal that the heterogeneity of microregions’ hospital structures follows the patterns of socioeconomic inequalities. We conclude that it is easier for the wealthier regions to reallocate hospital resources internally than for the poorest regions. By using the COVID Index, policymakers and hospital managers have straightforward information to decide which regions must receive new investments and reallocate underutilized resources.

Keywords: Coronavirus; pandemic.; health; service.; decision; index.; Brazilian; microregions.; Data; Envelopment; Analysis; (DEA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-021-02699-3

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