Comparative Evaluation of Healthcare Practices in Local Authorities

Abstract

Although the central government is responsible for health services in Turkey, local governments have also been given authority and duties. In the context of local governments, the first unit that comes to mind is municipalities. The aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the services of local authorities in the field of health in Turkey, in the example of metropolitan municipalities. In order to perform the study, the data of health services in eight major titles were requested from thirty metropolitan municipalities in Turkey. The study was carried out with the data of nine metropolitan municipalities that provided the data. In the light of the data obtained, the health services provided were compared by quantitative methods. To make these comparisons, the activities accomplished by the municipalities were scored according to their importance by five experts with different expertise. Subsequently, the municipalities were evaluated according to their activities exploiting these scores. Finally, the metropolitan municipalities participating in the study were evaluated comparatively according to the scores they received within the scope of the health services they provided. Nine metropolitan municipalities were participated in the study. The metropolitan municipalities sharing data were subjected to two different assessments. Accordingly, it was found that Kocaeli received the highest score in both assessments. In addition, it was found that the municipalities that share the most data are those located in Marmara region, and the ones that share data are mostly metropolitan municipalities before the law numbered 6360. It was determined that municipalities carry out many activities in the field of health; the most prominent in these activities are for the disabled and the elderly people, while the least important is laboratory services; Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality is the mosty succcesful municipality which is followed bu Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Muğla Metropolitan Muncipality.