How can Turkey create fiscal space for its health care system? A qualitative approach

KONCA M., Yildirim H. H.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, vol.14, no.4, pp.940-947, 2021 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 14 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/20479700.2020.1721749
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier
  • Page Numbers: pp.940-947
  • Keywords: Health financing, fiscal space, sustainability, stakeholders' views
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, opinions of participant stakeholders regarding fiscal space in the Turkish health care system were revealed benefiting from qualitative study techniques. According to the findings of the study, increases in health expenditures, health care market characteristics, equity in health care, insufficient funds for health care, demographic changes and health reforms were prominent reasons for creating fiscal space in the Turkish health care system. Majority of the participants stated that creating fiscal space in the Turkish health care system had a priority. Measures for income increases, reform-based measures, measures for expense decreases and budget-based measures were expressed by the participant stakeholders as ways of creating fiscal space methods in the Turkish health care system. By this study, for the first time in Turkey, creating fiscal space in health care was investigated based on stakeholders' opinions.