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The European Journal of Health Economics
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 4/2010

01-08-2010 | Original Paper

Geographic distribution of physicians in Portugal

Authors: Isabel Correia, Paula Veiga

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 4/2010

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Abstract

The main goals of this paper are to (1) analyse the inequality in geographic distribution of physicians and its evolution, (2) estimate the determinants of physician density, and (3) assess the importance of competitive and agglomerative forces in location decisions. The analysis of the geographic distribution of physicians is based on the ratio of general practitioners (GPs) and specialists to 1,000 inhabitants. The inequality is measured using Gini indices, coefficients of variation, and physician-to-population ratios. The econometric models were estimated by ordinary least squares. The data used refer to 1996 and 2007. The impact of the growing number of physicians, and therefore potential increased competition, on geographic distribution during the period studied was small. Nonetheless, there is evidence of competitive forces acting on the dynamics of doctor localisation. Geographic disparities in physician density are still high, and appear to be due mainly to geographic income inequality.
Footnotes
1
Two central specialized hospitals were not classified as central general hospitals: the psychiatric hospital of Source and the orthopaedic hospital of Setubal.
 
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Metadata
Title
Geographic distribution of physicians in Portugal
Authors
Isabel Correia
Paula Veiga
Publication date
01-08-2010
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 4/2010
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-009-0208-8

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