Assessing the efficiency of hospitals in Botswana: An application of the pabón lasso technique

The health system in sub-Saharan Africa faces a number of challenges, including weak health systems structures. The ramifications of inefficiencies in the management of resources could jeopardise the development of health infrastructure and the coverage of health care, especially among the poor and underprevillaged. Consequently, efficient allocation and management of scarce resources could improve the health systems in the region. The 2010 World Health Report places much emphasis on the invaluable role that efficiency palys in achieving universal coverage. The aim of this chapter was to conduct an exploratory assessment of the performance of non-referral hospitals in Botswana for the period 2006 to 2008 using the Pabón Lasso technique. The results show that during each year in the study period, less than half of the hospitals operated efficiently while more than half operated with excess bed capacity. The findings of the study imply that rather than expanding hospital sizes by increasing the number of beds, there could be an expansion in the health services provided by hospitals. This provides an opportunity to improve maternal and child health services and accelerate progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goal targets while moving the country towards universal coverage of health services.