Health care utilisation in Kedah: A microeconometric analysis

• Main Authors: Samsudin, Shamzaeffa, Jamil, Norzita, Zulhaid, Nur Hikmah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ontario International Development Agency 2012
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/10782/1/SSRN.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/10782/; http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2073874

While the government has made various efforts to upgrade health care facilities in Malaysia, these advances will only benefit the people if the facilities or services are utilised by those in need.This issue has highlighted the importance of the equity concept in health care utilisation.This study aims to identify the existence of income related inequity and determine the effect of the availability of health facilities in determining health care utilisation in the state of Kedah.A microeconometric analysis is used in this study, specifically the probit and count data models.We use multistage cluster sampling in selecting the sample for the study.All individuals aged 18 and above from selected households are interviewed. From the analysis it suggests that, beside health status, some socioeconomic factors are significant in determining health care use. However, there is no evidence of income-related inequity in health care utilisation in the area of study.The results also suggests that those live in the less developed district are less likely to utilise health care compared to those from developed district.This indicates that the availability of health facilities may somewhat induce the likelihood or frequency of health care use. Findings from this study may provide some information for policy analyst in designing an equitable health and health care policy for the well-being of the rakyat (people).