Discrimination in a universal health system: Explaining socioeconomic waiting time gaps

Meliyanni Johar, Glenn Jones (), Michael Keane (), Elizabeth Savage () and Olena Stavrunova ()

Journal of Health Economics, 2013, vol. 32, issue 1, 181-194

Abstract: One of the core goals of a universal health care system is to eliminate discrimination on the basis of socioeconomic status. We test for discrimination using patient waiting times for non-emergency treatment in public hospitals. Waiting time should reflect patients’ clinical need with priority given to more urgent cases. Using data from Australia, we find evidence of prioritisation of the most socioeconomically advantaged patients at all quantiles of the waiting time distribution. These patients also benefit from variation in supply endowments. These results challenge the universal health system's core principle of equitable treatment.

Keywords: Public hospital; Waiting time; Discrimination; Decomposition analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C14 C21 H51 I11 J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Discrimination in a universal health system: Explaining socioeconomic waiting time gaps (2012)
Working Paper: Discrimination in a Universal Health System: Explaining Socioeconomic Waiting Time Gaps (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:32:y:2013:i:1:p:181-194

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2012.09.004

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